MRS.  ANNIE  WITTENxMYER, 

First  President  Woman’s  National  Christian  Temperance 

Union. 


HISTORY 

II 

OF  THE 

WOMAN’S  TEMPERANCE 

CEUSADE. 


A Complete  Official  History  of  the  Wonderful  Uprising  of  the  Christian  Women 
of  the  United  States  against  the  Liquor  Traffic,  which  culminated 
in  the  Gospel  Temperance  Movement, 


BY  MRS.  ANNIE  WITTENMYER, 

AUTHOR  OF  “ WOMAN’S  WORK  FOR  JESUS,”  A “JEWELED  MINISTRY,” 

ETC. 


INTRODUCTION 

BY  MISS  FRANCES  E.  WILLARD, 


ILLUSTRATED. 


H.  M.  BROCKSTEDT, 
ST.  LOUIS, 


MO. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/historyofwomanst01witt 


in  2 


TO 


THE  CHRISTIAN  WOMEN, 


Who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  but  followed 
the  Master  into  the  Saloons,  and  Gambling  Dens,  and 
homes  of  sin,  and  sorrow,  and  went  joyfully 
to  prison  for  Christ’s  sake, 

AND  TO 

THE  WOMAN’S  NATIONAL  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION, 

THIS  VOLUME 


rs  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED  BY 


THE  AUTHOR. 


(3) 


PREFACE 


This  book  is  a carefully-prepared  official  history,  of  the 
wonderful  movement  known  as  the  Woman’s  Temperance 
Crusade. 

There  has  been  no  effort  at  literary  excellence ; yet  many 
of  the  thrilling  experiences  narrated  in  these  pages  in  simple 
words,  will  live  in  song  and  story  as  long  as  God  and  Truth 
are  honored  among  the  children  of  men. 

The  women  who  walked  with  God  in  the  fiery  furnace  of 
the  Crusade  have  been  allowed  as  far  as  possible  to  tell  of 
their  work  in  their  own  words,  and  they  should  be  accorded 
a gracious  hearing. 

In  this  record  there  are  glimpses  of  home  life,  “ like  apples 
of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver,”  for  these  women  are  true  home- 
makers ; there  are  scenes  in  churches  where  the  awful  sol- 
emnity is  broken  only  by  the  sobs  of  strong  men,  as  women 
with  lofty,  heaven-born  heroism,  go  out  as  God’s  chosen  lead- 
ers in  this  holy  war ; there  are  scenes  in  the  streets,  where 
bands  of  pure,  true  women,  surrounded  by  a howling  mob, 
kneel  in  the  snow,  and  with  the  light  of  the  excellent  glory 
on  their  faces,  pray  as  did  their  Master  for  just  such  another 
blaspheming,  mocking  mob : “ Father,  forgive  them,  they 
know  not  what  they  do,”  and  then  out  of  the  jaws  of  death, 
out  of  the  mouth  of  hell,  guided  by  an  invisible  hand,  shel- 
ls) 


6 


PREFACE. 


tered  by  unseen  wings,  pass  through  the  jeering,  filth-reeking, 
angry  crowd,  unharmed. 

There  are  many  things  in  this  book  that  will  tax  the  cre- 
dulity of  the  reader,  but  the  statemejits  it  contains  are  well  au- 
thenticated, and  must  be  accepted  as  facts.  Nothing,  perhaps, 
could  be  more  incredible  than  the  accounts,  oft-repeated,  of  the 
base  and  cowardly  indignities  heaped  upon  American  women, 
in  their  own  land,  by  foreigners,  who  were  protected  in  their 
outrages  by  the  stars  and  stripes,  for  which  many  of  these 
women  had  given  their  husbands,  sons  and  brothers. 

The  liquor  traffic  of  this  country  is  mainly  in  the  hands  of 
a low  class  of  foreigners,  and  they  are  responsible  for  all  the 
mobs,  and  nearly  all  the  insults  offered  to  the  Christian 
women  engaged  in  the  Crusade. 

These  pages  have  been  prayerfully  written,  and  the  facts 
they  contain  are  earnestly  commended  to  all  who  love  God, 
and  Truth,  and  Justice. 


Annie  Wittenmyer. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Page 

Introduction 13 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Outlook  at  the  Beginning  of 


the  Crusade 25 

The  Nation  Living  on  her  own  Vi- 
tals   28 

A Calcium  Light  turned  on  the 
Liquor  Traffic 32 


OHIO." 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Beginning  of  the  Crusade  in 

Ohio 34 

Response  to  Dr.  Lewis’  Appeal..  . 36 

Mrs.  Thompson’s  Story 37 

The  First  Saloon  Prayer-Meeting.  40 

A Saloon-Keeper  in  Tears 41 

Battle  with  Dunn,  the  Druggist. . . 42 

A Lawyer  Confounded  by  Prayer.  43 
Prayer  answered  after  Fifty  Years.  48 

Baptized  in  Whiskey 50 

Victory  at  Washington  Court-House  5 1 

Kneeling  in  the  Snow 52 

A Furious  Dutchman 56 

Facing  the  Dealer  and  his  Lawyer  59 
Surrender  of  every  Saloon 61 


Page 


Wine  banished  from  State  Dinners 

in  Ohio 63 

The  Work  in  Wilmington 64 

A General  Surrender 72 

New  Vienna 79 

Kenton,  Gallipolis,  and  Greenfield  84 

Franklin 86 

Morrow 87 

Oxford 94 

McArthur 95 

Georgetown 96 

Logan 98 

McConnelsville 102 

Marysville 103 

Findley 105 

Jamestown m 

Mount  Vernon 112 

Warren 115 

Steubenville 118 

Youngstown 119 

Alliance 125 

New  Philadelphia 149 


OHIO. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Cleveland 

Ladies  Beaten  by  a Mob.  . . 
A Mock  Prayer-Meeting  . . 


152 

154 

156 


(7) 


8 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Fierce  Dogs  subdued  by  Prayer. . . 

Millersburg 

Zanesville 

Painesville 

Ladies  Imprisoned  in  a Saloon. . . 

Ashland 

Bellevue  . . .* 

Bucyrus 

A Drunken  Mob 

Brutal  Treatment  of  the  Ladies  by 

the  Police 

Arrest  of  the  Ladies 

Tried  and  Condemned 

Elyria 

Athens  

Columbus 

Indignities  offered  to  the  Ladies.  . 

Meeting  in  the  State  House 

Van  Wert 

Cincinnati 

A Crusade  Dog 

Meeting  at  the  Esplanade 

Cannon  brought  out 

The  Mayor  knocked  down  by  the 

Mob 

Forty-three  Ladies  Arrested 

The  Stoiy  of  the  White  Shoes  and 

White  Dresses 

What  a Picture  did 

Clyde 

Cedarville  

Marietta 

Xenia 

Waynesville 

New  Concord 

Ravenna  and  Marion 

West  Union  and  Felicity 

Lebanon  

Grandville 

Leesburg  and  Blanchester 

Goshen,  Zaleski,  and  Troy 

Mansfield, 


Page 


Ripley 294 

Tiffin 296 

Bellefontaine 298 

Springfield 301 

Newark 310 

Urbana 318 

Dayton 323 

Piqua 329 

Circleville 330 

Madisonville  and  Delaware 332 

Portsmouth 334 

Stryker 337 

Chillicothe  339 


INDIANA. 

CHAPTER  IV. 


Shelby ville 341 

Jeffersonville 348 

Chestertown 356 

Thorntown 363 

Crawfordsville 366 

Evansville 36S 

Madison 377 

Indianapolis 391 

Richmond 396 


ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Chicago 399 

Visit  to  the  City  Council 401 

A Mob  of  Five  or  Six  Thousand. . 402 
Origin  of  the  Daily  Temperance 

Prayer- ^Meeting 405 

Jacksonville 412 

Rockford 417 

Bloomington 421 

Moline 424 


Page 

156 

167 

168 

170 

I71 

175 

176 

177 

190 

196 

203 

204 

206 

215 

220 

221 

224 

225 

228 

230 

232 

235 

238 

240 

244 

248 

251 

252 

255 

258 

263 

267 

273 

27S 

279 

280 

282 

282 

2S3 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


9 


WEST  VIRGINIA. 
CHAPTER  VI. 

Page 


Wheeling 442 

Visit  to  Laramie’s  Variety  Theatre  444 

Laramie’s  Harangue 445 

Visit  to  the  Dancing  Girls 447 

Laramie’s  Den  Closed 448 

Savegaut’s  Brutal  Treatment  of 

the  Ladies 449 

A Dealer  Checkmated 450 

Captain  Jack  and  Temperance.. . . 451 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA.4S2 
A Saloon  closed  by  the  Judgments 

of  God 455 

Forgeries  in  obtaining  Licenses  . . 457 
Securing  the  President’s  Veto.  . . . 458 
Distinguished  Paupers  in  the  Poor- 
House  459 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Pittsburgh 465 

First  Arrest  of  the  Ladies 469 

Their  Acquittal 470 

Rearrested  and  taken  to  Jail 471 

A Mob — The  Ladies  Arrested  the 

Third  Time 472 

Carried  to  the  Court  of  Common 

Pleas 473 

Acquitted — Singing  and  Praying 

not  Unlawful 475 

The  Acting  Mayor  in  the  Peniten- 
tiary  476 

Allegheny 478 

Williamsport 482 

Judgments  meted  out 484 


Page 


Blossburg 487 

Warren 488 

Philadelphia 491 

A Graduate  of  Yale  Redeemed..  . 498 

God  can  Save  a Tramp 499 

A Marvellous  Answer  to  Prayer.  . 500 

Montrose 5^4 

Susquehanna  and  Troy 5^5 

Ashley 506 


NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Fredonia 507 

First  Visit  to  Saloons 509 

Auburn  5 1 1 

Plattsburg 512 

Albany 514 

Syracuse 516 

Rochester 518 

Oswego 520. 

Hornellsville 52$ 

Utica 527 

Rome 531, 

New  York  City 533; 

A Scene  to  melt  the  hardest  Heart  538 

Meetings  in  a Dance-House 540 

The  Walls  about  New  York  City.  543 

Brooklyn 544 

A Strange  Telegram 546 

A Man  Redeemed 548 

Every  Saloon  closed  where  they 

held  Prayer-Meetings 551 

Captain  Oliver  Cotter’s  Conversion  553 
The  Wonderful  Saloon  Prayer- 

Meeting  554 

Binghampton 557 

Poughkeepsie 559 

Geneva 563 

Peekskill 565 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


lO 

VERMONT,  NEW  HAMP- 
SHIRE, AND  R.  ISLAND. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Page 


VERMONT 569 

No  Saloons  in  St.  Johnsburg 570 

Mechanics  growing  Rich 571 

Schemes  to  evade  the  Law 572 

St.  Albans 573 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Concord '. 575 

Portsmouth 578 

Presentation  of  Flags  to  Sailors. . . 580 

RHODE  ISLAND 581 

Visiting  the  Saloons  in  Pawtucket  583 

A Visit  to  the  Legislature 585 

The  Ladies  Victorious 586 

Reform  Club  Movement 588 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Convention  at  Worcester 591 

The  Results  of  Work 592 

Protest  against  Wine-Drinking  at 

Public  Dinners 594 

Interview  with  the  Mayor 595 

Memorial  of  W.  C.  T.  U 596 

The  Response  of  the  Mayor 598 

Action  of  the  City  Council 604 

MAINE. 

Bangor 605 

Petition  to  the  City  Council 606 

Establishment  of  a Club  and  Read- 
ing-Room   607 

Reformation  of  Dr.  Henry  A. 

Reynolds 60S 


Page 


Augusta 609 

Stroudwater 61 1 

Portland 614 

Opening  of  a Friendly  Inn 616 

Flower  and  Diet  Missions 617 

Old  Orchard 618 


MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Adrian 619 

Lansing 625 

Jackson 627 

Grand- Rapids 631 

Cold  Water  and  Eaton  Rapids  . . . 633 

New  Boston 635 

Portland 641 

Howell 642 

Allegan 643 

Ionia 645 

Hudson 647 

Morenci 649 

Flint 650 

Leslie 651 

Dowagiac 653 

Colon 655 


WISCONSIN,  MINNESOTA, 
IOWA,  AND  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

WISCONSIN. 

Ripon 657 

Invitation  to  a Saloon 658 

Praying  in  Underground  Rooms  . . 660 

Druggist  driven  away 662 

Josh  and  the  Election 663 

Indignities  offered 665 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


I 1 


Page 


MINNESOTA 667 

IOWA 668 

Manchester 670 

Wilton  Junction 674 

Vallisca 677 

Vinton 678 

Clinton 680 

MISSOURI 683 

Carthage 684 


CALIFORNIA  and  OREGON. 


CALIFORNIA .*...687 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Victory  at  Oakland 688 

Mob  at  Alameda 689 

A Reign  of  Terror 690 

Sallie  Hart  Assailed 690 

An  Old  Lady  Insulted 6gi 

Effigy  of  Sallie  Hart  Buried 692 

German  Liquor-Dealers  Respon- 
sible  693 

Statement  of  Rev.  O.  Gibson 695 

Affidavit  of  Officer  Krauth 697 

OREGON 698 

Visit  to  Moffett’s  Saloon 699 

An  Irate  German 700 

Brutality  of  the  Police 702 

Mob  at  Moffett’s 703 

Pistols,  Knives,  and  Gongs 704 

The  Ladies  Arrested 705 

The  Trial 706 

Convicted 708 

The  Ladies  Protest 709 

Sent  to  Prison 710 

Driven  from  the  Jail 711 

Encouraging  Words 712 

Murder  in  a Saloon 713 


NEW  JERSEY. 
CHAPTER  XIV. 

Page 


Newark 716 

The  Drunken  Engineer  Saved..  . . 717 
A Drunken  Tailor  Redeemed.  ...  718 

A Miracle  of  Grace 719 

Giving  up  Rum  and  Tobacco.  . . . 720 

Reform  Club  Organized 721 

Delirium  Tremens  Cured 724 

A Drunken  Husband  Reached.  . . 725 

Roseville 727 

Lambertville  and  Rahway 731 

Jersey  City 732 

Mt.  Holly  and  New  Brunswick..  . 733 

Hackettstown 733 

Trenton 734 

MARYLAND 736 

The  Wail  of  Women  and  Children  737 

Organization 738 

State  Convention 739 

The  English  Sailor-Boy 740 

Farewell  Meeting  for  Mrs.  Parker  741 
Smallest  of  the  Polished  Stones  . . 742 
The  Tryst  of  Maryland 743 

CONNECTICUT. 

New  Milford 745 

The  Battle — License  or  No  Li- 
cense   746 

Eastford 748 

Plainville 750 

New  Haven 754 

Stafford  755 

Ministers  Stoned 756 

Bridgeport 756 

Hartford 758 

DELAWARE 760 

Visit  to  the  Legislature 761 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


I 2 

Page 


I made  him  what  he  was 762 

A Dealer  Confounded 763 

Mass-Meetings  at  Wilmington  ....  763 


OUTLOOK  AFTER  THE 
CRUSADE. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Watchword 764 

The  Pulpit 765 

Sunday-Schools 765 

International  Medical  Congress..  . 766 
Correspondence  of  W.  C.  T.  U. . . 766 
Views  of  Drs.  Mussey  and  Rush. . 767 
Answer  of  International  Congress . 768 


Alcohol  Ruled  out  of  its  cherished 
Place  


Page 


Important  Advancement 770 

What  the  Crusade  was 771 

Relation  of  Foreign  Emigration  to 

the  Liquor  Traffic 771 

Nationality  of  Dealers  in  Phila- 
delphia  772 

Nationality  of  Prisoners  and 

Paupers 773 

Outrages  that  stir  Patriotic  Blood.  774 

Political  Corruption 775 

The  Bartender  to  Manage  Election 

Matters 776 

Sabbath  Desecration 777 

President  Hayes’  View  of  the 

Bible 778 

Personal  Liberty 779 

Hedged  about  by  Law 780 

Work,  and  Pray,  and  Wait 781 


769 


INTRODUCTION. 


Ours  is  a famous  country  for  protection.  There  is 
the  tariff  to  protect  industry,  while  the  patent  laws  are 
a safeguard  to  invention.  There  are  the  land  grants 
for  railroads,  subsidies  for  steamship  companies,  char- 
ters for  corporations.  In  many  of  the  States  we  have 
societies  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals,  and 
in  nearly  all,  laws  for  the  protection  of  game.  Busy 
with  all  these  gentle,  wise,  and  patriotic  measures, 
there  is  one  place  our  brothers  have  forgotten  ade- 
quately to  protect,  and  that  is — Home.  The  Women’s 
Temperance  Crusade,  embalmed  in  the  pages  that 
follow,  was  a protest  against  this  forgetfulness  and  this 
neglect.  It  was  the  wild  cry  of  the  defenceless  and 
despairing,  whose  echo  rose  to  Heaven  and  still  re- 
sounds in  every  ear  that  is  not  deaf.  At  the  height 
of  that  wonderful  uprising,  a sweet-voiced  Quaker 
woman  led  her  band  to  the  chief  saloon  in  an  Ohio 
village.  “What  business  have  you  to  come  here?” 
roared  the  affrighted  dealer.  Going  to  the  bar  she 
laid  her  Bible  down  and  said : “Thee  knows  I had  five 
sons  and  twenty  grandsons,  and  thee  knows  that  many 
of  them  learned  to  drink  right  in  this  place,  and  one 
went  forth  from  here  maddened  with  wine  and  blew 

(13) 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


his  brains  out  with  a pistol  ball ; and  can’t  thee  let  his 
mother  la/her  Bible  on  the  counter  whence  her  boy 
took  up  the  glass,  and  read  thee  what  God  says:  ‘ Woe 
tmto  him  that  puts  the  bottle  to  his  neighbor  s lips?’  ” 

The  saloon-keeper  had  but  to  point  to  the  wall 
behind  him,  where  hung  his  “License  to  sell,”  bearing 
the  names  of  prominent  citizens  of  the  village,  and 
emblazoned  with  the  escutcheon  of  the  Commonwealth. 
They  all  met  in  that  little  scene — Gospel  and  Law, 
man’s  failure,  woman’s  grief;  while  the  reason  why, 
and  the  place  in  which  they  met,  gave  ample  answer 
to  the  question  heard  so  often  : What  did  the  Crusade 
mean  ? 

There  is  another  question  quite  as  often  asked: 
What  did  the  Crusade  do?  One  of  its  leaders  made 
this  reply  to  the  Temperance  Sojourner,  who  writes 
these  lines:  “Well,  let  me  answer  from  my  own  expe- 
rience. Until  it  swept  over  our  place,  though  I had 
lived  there  twenty  years,  I knew  so  little  about  this 
drinking  business  that  I couldn’t  have  pointed  out  a 
saloon  in  the  whole  town.  I thought  the  queer-look- 
ing places  with  blinds  and  screens  were  barber-shops. 
Since  then  I have  found  out  that  they  are  shops  where 
men  get  shaved — not  of  their  beards,  but  of  their 
honor.  Since  then,  too,  I took  my  little  four-year-old 
boy  to  market  with  me  one  morning,  and  feeling  his 
clasp  of  my  hand  tighten,  I looked  down  and  saw  his 
head  turned  backward  apprehensively.  ‘Why,  Willie, 
what’s  the  matter  ? ’ I exclaimed.  There  were  vol- 
umes of  meaning  in  the  reproachful  roll  of  his  solemn 
blue  eyes  as  he  w'hispered : ‘ Didn’t  mamma  know  that 


INTRODUCTION. 


^5 


her  little  boy  was  a-passin’  a saloon?’  Surely  it  was 
the  crowning  achievement  of  the  Crusade  that  it  opened 
the  eyes  of  millions  of  women  and  children  in  this  land 
to'the  existence  and  the  dangers  of  the  rum-shop.  In 
consequence  of  this  the  public  finger  points  to-day  with 
imperious  gesture  at  the  saloon,  and  woman’s  voice 
in  tones  of  irresistible  persuasion  cries,  ‘Look  there  !’  ” 

What  did  the  Crusade  do  ? Take  another  illustra- 
tion. In  front  of  a saloon  that  had  refused  them  en- 
trance, knelt  a crusading  group.  Their  leader  was  also 
the  most  prominent  Methodist  lady  of  the  community. 
Her  head  was  crowned  with  the  glory  of  gray  hairs; 
her  hands  were  clasped,  her  sweet  and  gentle  voice 
was  lifted  up  in  prayer.  Around  her  knelt  the  flower 
of  all  the  churches  of  that  city — Congregationallsts, 
Baptists,  Presbyterians — many  of  whom  had  never 
worked  outside  their  own  denominations  until  now. 
At  the  close,  an  Episcopal  lady  offered  the  Lord’s 
prayer,  in  which  joined  Unitarians,  Swedenborgians, 
and  Universalists  ; and  when  they  had  finished,  a dear 
old  lady  in  the  dove-colored  garb  of  the  Friends’  So- 
ciety was  moved  to  pray,  while  all  the  time  below  them 
on  the  curbstone’s  edue  knelt  Bridget  with  her  beads 
and  her  Ave  Marie. 

“Going  out  on  the  street”  signified  a good  deal 
when  one  comes  to  think  about  it.  First  of  all,  it 
meant  stepping  outside  the  denominational  fence, 
which,  properly  enough,  surrounds  one’s  home.  The 
Crusaders  felt  that  “unity  of  the  Spirit”  was  the  one 
essential,  nor  feared  to  join  hands  with  any  who  had 
the  Bible  and  the  temperance  pledge  for  the  two  arti- 


INTRODUCTION. 


l6 

cles  in  their  “Confession  of  Faith” — who  rallied  to 
the  tune  of  “ Rock  of  Ages  cleft  for  me,”  or  had  for 
their  watchword : “ Not  willing  that  any  should  perish.” 

Best  of  all,  “going  out  on  the  street”  brought 
women  face  to  face  with  the  w'orld’s  misery  and  sin. 
And  here  I may  be  pardoned  a bit  of  personal  remi- 
niscence. Never  can  I forget  the  day  I met  the  great 
unwashed,  untaught,  ungospelled  multitude  for  the  first 
time.  Need  I say  it  was  the  Crusade  that  opened 
before  me,  as  before  ten  thousand  other  women,  this 
wide,  “effectual  door?”  It  was  in  Pittsburgh,  the 
summer  after  the  Crusade.  Greatly  had  I wished  to 
have  a part  in  it,  but  this  one  experience  was  my  first 
and  last  of  “going  out  with  a band.”  A young 
teacher  from  the  public  schools,  whose  custom  it 
Avas  to  mve  an  hour  twice  each  week  to  crusadinm 

O ^ ' 

walked  arm-in-arm  with  me.  Two  school-ma’ms 
together,  we  fell  into  the  procession  behind  the  expe- 
rienced campaigners.  On  Market  street  we  entered 
a saloon  the  proprietor  of  Avhich,  pointing  to  several 
men  who  were  fighting  in  the  next  room,  begged  us 
to  leave,  and  we  did  so  at  once,,  amid  the  curses  of  the 
bacchanalian  group.  Forming  in  line  on  the  curb- 
stone’s edge  in  front  of  this  saloon,  we  knelt,  while  an 
old  lady,  to  whose  son  that  place  had  proved  the  gate 
of  death,  offered  a prayer  full  of  tenderness  and  faith, 
asking  God  to  open  the  eyes  of  those  who,  just  behind 
that  screen,  were  selling  liquid  fire  and  breathing  cucses 
on  his  name.  We  rose,  and  what  a scene  Avas  there  ! 
The  sideAvalk  Avas  lined  by  men  Avith  faces  Avritten  all 
over  and  interlined  with  the  record  of  their  sin  and 


INTRODUCTION. 


17 


shame.  Soiled  with  “the  slime  from  the  muddy  banks 
of  time,”  tattered,  dishevelled,  there  was  not  a sneer- 
ing look  or  a rude  word  or  action  from  any  one  of 
them.  Most  of  them  had  their  hats  off ; many  looked 
sorrowful;  some  were  in  tears;  and  standing  there  in 
the  roar  and  tumult  of  that  dingy  street,  with  that 
strange  crowd  lookino^  into  our  faces — with  a heart 
stirred  as  never  until  now  by  human  sin  and  shame,  I 
joined  in  the  sweet  gospel  song : 

“ Jesus  the  water  of  life  will  give 
Freely,  freely,  freely  !” 

Just  such  an  epoch  as  that  was  in  my  life,  has  the 
Crusade  proved  to  a mighty  army  of  women  all  over 
this  land.  Does  anybody  think  that,  having  learned 
the  blessedness  of  carrying  Christ’s  gospel  to  those 
who  never  come  to  church  to  hear  the  messao-es  we 

o 

are  all  commanded  to  “Go,  tell,”  we  shall  ever  lay 
down  this  work?  Not  until  the  tjenie  of  the  Arabian 
Nights  crowds  himself  back  into  the  fabulous  kettle 
whence  he  escaped  by  expanding  his  pinions  in  nebu- 
lous bars — not  until  then  ! To-day  and  every  day 
they  go  forth  on  their  beautiful  errands — the  “Protes- 
tant nuns  ” who  a few  years  ago  were  among  the 
“anxious  and  aimless”  of  our  crowded  population,  or 
who  belonged  to  trades  and  professions  overfull — and 
with  them  go  the  women  fresh  from  the  sacred  home- 
hearth  and  cradle-side,  wearing  the  halo  of  these  loving 
ministries.  If  you  would  find  them,  go  not  alone  to 
the  costly  churches  which  now  welcome  their  voices, 
while  to  those  who  are  “ at  ease  in  Zion  ” they  gently 


INTRODUCTION. 


speak  of  the  great,  whitened  harvest.  But  go  to 
blacksmith  shop  and  billiard-hall,  to  public  reading- 
room  and  depot  waiting-room,  to  the  North  End  in 
Boston,  Water  street.  New  York,  the  Bailey  coffee- 
houses of  Philadelphia,  the  Friendly  Inns  of  Cleve- 
land, the  Woman’s  Temperance  Room  of  Cincinnati, 
and  Lower  Farwell  Hall,  Chicago,  and  you  will  find 
the  glad  tidings  declared  by  the  new  “ apostolic  succes- 
sion,” dating  from  the  Pentecost  of  the  Crusade. 

There  is  another  question  often  asked,  to  which  this 
thought  of  woman’s  temperance  work  conducts  us,  viz.  r 
What  is  the  Crusade  doing  now  ? 

Those  who  ask  it  with  supercilious  glance  furnish  an 
added  illustration  of  the  immense  power  of  the  human 
mind  to  resist  knowledge. 

“John  Brown’s  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave. 

But  his  soul  is  marching  on.’’ 

Just  so  with  the  Crusade.  It  has  come  and  it  has 
gone — that  whirlwind  of  the  Lord — but  it  has  set  forces 
in  motion  which  each  day  become  more  potent,  and 
will  sweep  on  until  the  rum  power  in  America  is  over- 
thrown. There  was  but  one  Pentecost;  doubtless  his- 
tory will  record  but  one  Crusade. 

A phenomenon  no  less  remarkable,  though  certainly 
much  less  remarked,  has  succeeded  that  wonderlul 
uprising — indeed,  is  aptly  termed  its  sober,  second 
thought.  This  is  the  phenomenon  of  organization.  The 
women  w'ho  went  forth  by  an  impulse  sudden,  irresisti- 
ble, divine,  to  pray  in  the  saloons,  became  convinced, 
as  weeks  and  months  passed  by,  theirs  was  to  be  no 


INTRODUCTION, 


19 


easily-won  victory.  The  enemy  was  rich  beyond  their 
power  to  comprehend.  He  had  upon  his  side  the 
majesty  of  law,  the  trickery  of  politics,  and  the  leagued 
strength  of  that  almost  invincible  pair — Appetite, 
Avarice.  He  was  persistent,  too,  as  Fate,  He  had 
determined  to  fiorht  it  out  on  that  line  to  the  last  dollar 

o 

of  his  enormous  treasure-house,  and  the  last  ounce  of 
his  power.  But  these  women  of  the  Crusade  believed  in 
God,  and  in  themselves  as  among  his  appointed  instru- 
ments for  the  destruction  of  the  rum  power.  They  loved 
Christ’s  cause;  they  loved  the  native  land  that  had  been 
so  mindful  of  them  ; they  loved  their  sweet  and  sacred 
homes.  And  so  it  came  about  that,  though  they  had 
gone  forth  only  as  skirmishers,  they  soon  fell  into  line 
of  battle;  though  they  had  innocently  hoped  to  overcome 
the  enemy  by  a sudden  assault,  they  buckled  on  the 
armor  for  the  long  campaign.  The  Women’s  Praying 
Bands,  earnest,  impetuous,  inspired,  became  the 
Women’s  Temperance  Unions,  firm,  patient,  persever- 
ing. The  Praying  Bands  were  without  leadership  save 
that  which  inevitably  results  from  the  survival  of  the 
fittest;  the  Women’s  Unions  are  regularly  officered. 
The  first  wrought  their  grand  pioneer  work  in  sublime 
indifference  to  prescribed  forms  of  procedure;  “ So  say 
we,  all  of  us,”  being  the  spirit  of  “motions”  often 
“made,  seconded  and  carried”  by  the  Chair,  while  the 
assembled  women  nodded  their  earnest  acquiescence; 
the  second  are  possessed  of  good  strong  “ Constitu- 
tions” (with  By-Laws  annexed),  and  follow  their 
“Order  of  Business”  with  a dutiful  regard  to  parlia- 
mentary usage.  The  Praying  Bands,  looking  for 


20 


INTRODUCTION. 


immediate  deliverance,  pressed  their  numbers  into 
incessant  service;  the  Women’s  Unions,  aware  that 
the  battle  is  to  be  a long  one,  ask  their  members  only 
for  such  help  as  can  be  given  consistently  with  other 
duties.  Enthusiasm — “a  God  in  us” — enabled  the 
Praying  Bands  to  accomplish  prodigies ; patient  pur- 
pose, with  the  same  faith  that  inspired  the  Crusade,  is 
conducting  the  Unions  to  victory — distant,  but  sure. 
To-day  twenty-three  States  are  organized,  with 
thousands  of  local  auxiliaries,  and  all  confederated  in 
a National  Union. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  never  did  any  form  of  philan- 
thropic work  afford  scope  for  so  great  diversity  of  talent 
and  of  method  as  this  branch  of  the  temperance  reform 
“ of  the  women,  by  the  women.”  In  the  days  of  the  Cru- 
sade a dear  old  grandmother  said : “ I’m  of  no  use 
except  to  go  along  and  cry,”  and  in  the  same  spirit  a 
negro  servant  said  to  the  lady  for  whom  she  worked : 
“ I be’ant  good  for  much,  but  I kin  hold  the  ole  ombe- 
reller  over  you  ; ” and  even  the  family  dog  sometimes 
walked  with  stately  step  beside  his  mistress  as  she  lead 
her  “Band.”  So,  in  these  blessed  days  that  have  suc- 
ceeded, and  which  have  brought  such  inspiration  to  our 
lives  that  “ I’m  glad  I’m  alive  ! ” is  a frequent  exclama- 
tion, there  is  a place  that  seems  “just  made  on  pur- 
pose ” for  every  honest  heart  and  helpful  hand.  Some 
feel  a special  call  to  the  gospel  work,  and  others  to 
the  execution  of  the  law;  some  give  their  time  to 
organizing  Unions,  others  to  canvassing  for  subscribers 
to  our  paper;  some  raise  money,  others  raise  the 
tone  of  public  sentiment ; some  work  among  the  chil- 


INTRODUCTION. 


21 


dren,  others  labor  for  the  men  who  drink  and  sell,  and  all 
are  warmly  welcomed  and  find  abundant  “ elbow-room.” 

It  was  the  great  Iconoclast,  that  wonderful  Crusade  ! 
It  broke  down  sectarian  barriers ; it  taught  women 
their  power  to  transact  business,  to  mould  public  opin- 
ion by  public  utterance,  to  influence  the  decisions  of 
voters,  and  opened  the  eyes  of  scores  and  hundreds 
to  the  need  of  the  Republic  for  the  suffrages  of  women, 
and  made  them  willing  to  take  up  for  their  homes  and 
country’s  sake  the  burdens  of  that  citizenship  they 
would  never  have  sought  for  their  own. 

O 

But  best  of  all,  it  revealed  to  the  mothers  and 
daughters  in  our  Israel  their  opportunity  and  duty  to 
employ  the  growing  leisure  which  our  advancing 
civilization  and  multiplied  mechanical  contrivances 
afford  them,  in  building  up  Christ’s  empire  on  the 
earth.  It  is  a very  plain,  practical  matter  to  help 
organize  the  kingdom  of  heaven  in  a human  breast. 
It  is  a business  enterprise  based  on  an  eminently 
practical  treatise  known  as  the^New  Testament.  Re- 
place the  brandy  flask  in  the  pocket  of  a drinking 
man  by  the  Bible — get  him  to  read  with  sincere  wish 
to  understand  the  words  that  are  spirit  and  life,  and 
you  have  set  in  motion  the  forces  of  a new  dispensa- 
tion in  his  heart.  You  have  built  him  up  within 
instead  of  propping  him  from  without.  To  give  him  a 
loaf  of  bread,  if  hungry,  would  be  a good  thing,  but  to 
put  him  on  track  of  getting  one  for  himself  by  feeding 
him  with  heavenly  bread,  is  better.  To  put  a broken 
arm  in  a sling  is  a kind  act,  but  if  one  could  by  an 
electric  touch  make  that  arm  whole,  that  were  the 


22 


INTRODUCTION. 


supreme  benefaction,  and  analogous  to  that  is  the  lov- 
ing  “gospel  work  ” by  which  we  help  to  enthrone  con- 
science and  enshrine  Christ  in  a man’s  soul.  The 
process  is  plain  and  simple  as  the  Rule  of  Three. 
The  geometric  formula  that  “all  the  angles  of  a triangle 
equal  two  right  angles”  is  not  more  demonstrable  upon 
the  blackboard  than  this  rule  is  demonstrable  in  a life, 
namely : Prayer  will  cause  a man  to  cease  from  sinning, 
as  sin  will  cause  a man  to  cease  from  prayer.  The 
whole  problem  of  "how  to  do  it”  was  wrought  out 
ovrr  and  over  again  J^y  the  women  of  the  Crusade. 
They  proved  anew  to  the  great  church  militant  that  its 
solution  involves,  and  ever  must,  the  individualism  of 
Christ’s  own  way  of  working  ; that  “ the  masses  ” are 
to  be  lifted  up  one  by  one,  and  not  otherwise.  It  is  a 
question  of  contact.  It  is  “ elbow  heathen  ” the  Cru- 
saders reached,  just  because  they  found  them  at  their 
elbows.  They  acted  on  the  principle  that  the  man  and 
woman  in  the  next  alley  to  us  are  a part  of  our  parish 
in  the  geographical  nature  of  things.  Some  people 
spend  a lifetime  chasing  after  “ the  masses,”  and  are  in 
such  hot  pursuit  they  cannot  stop  to  capture  the  unit 
of  the  mass — and  that’s  the  nearest  and  the  neediest 
man.  The  masses  elude  us  ; the  next-door  neighbor 
couldn’t  if  he  would,  and  wouldn’t  if  he  could.  The 
masses  are  a glittering  generality;  the  man,  poor, 
needy,  wicked,  sad,  is  a most  unglittering  fact.  It  is 
the  way  an  arm)'  is  recruited — one  by  one  ; it  is  the 
way  commerce  marches  across  a continent  and  captures 
it  for  civilization — one  by  one  ; it  is  the  way  Christ’s 
church  adds  to  its  members,  and  heaven  to  its  souls — 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


one  by  one.  And  first,  best,  and  most  sacred  of  the 
lessons  taught  by  the  Crusade,  was  this  lesson  of  indi- 
vidual work  for  Christ,  which  must  be  learned  by  every 
disciple  before  Christ  comes  as  King  in  government, 
in  society  and  individual  life. 

Travelling  through  Ohio  two  years  ago,  and  rest- 
ing for  a night  in  some  dear  temperance  woman’s 
home,  how  many  times  I said  : “ Now  talk  to  me  of  the 
Crusade,”  and  how  significantly  uniform  was  the  reply : 
“ O,  that  was  something  only  to  be  felt  and  lived ; to 
be  wept  and  prayed  over — it  wasn’t  to  be  told.” 

But  as  you,  dear  sisters  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  other 
States  both  east  and  west,  were  helped  to  do  a work 
so  wonderful,  even  so,  as  I believe,  has  our  dear  Pres- 
ident of  the  National  Union,  which  grew  out  of  the 
Crusade,  been  helped  to  be  its  faithful  Chronicler. 
We,  who  can  but  claim  to  be  eleventh-hour  laborers 
at  best,  may  never  see  the  passion  flower  that 
burst  into  such  splendid  bloom  before  your  eyes, 
but  evermore  we  shall  be  grateful  to  her  whose  pa- 
tient hands  gathered  up  its  scattered  petals  and  pre- 
served them  for  the  herbarium  of  our  memory.  Nay, 
not  for  ours  alone.  Posterity  will  listen  to  the  story 
and  place  its  heroines  in  the  Pantheon  of  undying 
fame.  And  yet  how  well  I know  you  have  not  wrought 
for  this ; nor  is  it  a regret  to  you  that,  as  in  this  Plis- 
tory  our  friend  has  written,  so  in  later  times  the  record 
shall  embalm  your  deeds,  but  not  your  names.  One 
human  life  and  work  signifies  little  to  the  world.  But 

o 

O,  if  we  have  tried  to  bless  the  lives  about  us,  whether 
in  the  sweet  evano-elism  of  our  homes  or  in  the  urand 

o o 


24 


INTRODUCTION. 


philanthropies  by  which  society  becomes  the  foster- 
parent of  thousands  who  are  worse  than  motherless, 
we  shall  not  have  lived  in  vain.  Wherever  in  the 
nobler  future  of  the  land  we  love,  there  are  safe  and 
happy  homes,  they  will  be  safer  and  more  happy 
because  we  have  lived  and  toiled.  Wherever  little 
children  grow  to  maturity  with  less  to  lure  them  into 
sin,  and  tempted  manhood  finds  more  helpful  hands 
outstretched  to  save,  there  we  shall  still  be  blessing, 
there  we  shall  still  be  blessed,  though  our  names  may 
be  forgotten.  O,  “ may  we  join  the  choir  invisible,” 
whose  voices,  sounding  onward  through  the  ages,  shall 
speak  to  sad  humanity  of  Him  who  yesterday,  to-day, 
forever,  abides  the  same  ! 

“ In  the  cross  of  Christ  I glory, 

Towering  o’er  the  wreck  of  time; 

All  that’s  bright  in  human  story 
Radiates  from  its  form  divine!  ” 

FRANCES  E.  WILLARD. 


Chicago, 


MISS  FRANCES  E.  WILLARD, 


First  Corresponding  Secretary  Woman’s  National 
Christian  Temperance  Union. 


Elected  President  in  1879. 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


CHAPTER  1. 

THE  OUTLOOK  AT  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  CRUSADE. 

We  are  a nation  of  God’s  own  right-hand  planting. 
The  Lord  has  given  us  a goodly  heritage — a land  lit- 
erally flowing  with  milk  and  honey.  It  is  estimated 
that  our  gfrain  fields  are  broad  and  rich  enoua-h  to 
supply  the  people  of  all  nations  with  bread.  We  have 
mineral  wealth  in  rich  abundance;  and  cotton,  and  flax, 
and  wool,  and  silks  and  furs  with  which  to  clothe  our- 
selves in  royal  apparel.  Our  scheme  of  government  is 
wise,  and  just,  and  humane — the  best  that  was  ever 
vouchsafed  to  any  people.  And  God  has  been  with 
us  in  his  providences  in  a marked  and  wonderful  man- 
ner; so  that  all  our  enemies  have  been  subdued  before  us 
by  the  breath  of  his  power.  At  his  word  steam  has  lent 
her  wings,  and  the  lightnings  their  voice,  and  heaven 
spread  the  wires  of  her  whispering  gallery,  like  a net- 

(25) 


26 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE. 


work,  over  the  continent,  to  help  on  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty and  human  progress. 

Under  these  favorable  circumstances,  we  might  have 
been  the  strongest  and  richest  nation  in  the  world  had 
not  our  rulers  in  their  unwisdom  encouraged  the 

O 

liquor  traffic,  and  adopted  a scheme  of  raising  public 
revenue  in  connection  therewith  which  has  been  de- 
structive to  our  moral,  industrial,  and  financial  interests. 

To  avoid  imposing  a direct  tax  for  the  support  of 
the  government.  Congress  in  1 794  recognized  and 
taxed  the  liquor  traffic  as  a branch  of  commerce. 
State  Je^islatu res  soon  followed  the  same  unwise  and 

O 

suicidal  course.  From  that  time  on,  protected  and 
encouraged  by  the  government,  which  shared  in  its 
spoils,  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks  increased  rap- 
idly. In  1873,  the  beginning  of  the  crusade,  according 
to  the  estimate  of  Dr.  Young,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of 
Statistics,  our  annual  drink  bill  reached  the  enormous 
sum  of  ^600,000,000 ! This  was  an  annual  tax  of 
over  ^15  per  capita  for  every  man,  woman,  and  child 
in  the  country.  If  the. government  had  levied  a direct 
tax  to  secure  the  amount  she  realized  from  this  busi- 
ness, the  cost  to  the  people  per  capita  would  have 
been  less  than  $i.So  instead  of  ^15.  And  then  the 
ofovernment  would  have  saved  the  immense  sum 
expended  annually  in  sustaining  a standing  army  of 
revenue  officers,  detectives,  and  gaugers  required  in 
connection  with  the  liquor  business.’ 

This  enormous  tax,  which  reached  all  srrades  of  so- 
ciety,  fell  heaviest  on  the  laboring  classes — upon  those 
who  could  not  afford  to  pay  it;  and  poverty  and  ruin 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE.  27 

came  to  millions.  The  whole  land  was  filled  with  beg- 
gary and  crime,  and  a bitter  wail  of  want  and  woe 
without  surcease  went  up  to  God.  Millions  who  ought 
to  have  been  producers  and  bre^d-winners,  became 
consumers,  tramps  and  criminals.  Men,  mad  with 
strong  drink,  reeled  through  the  streets;  women, 
grown  old  before  their  time,  toiled  in  their  comfortless 
homes  in  dumb  despair,  and  little  half-starved  children 
hid  away  in  fear  from  their  brutal  fathers.  It  was  with 
us  as  it  was  with  the  Egyptians — there  was  one  dead 
in  almost  every  house. 

But  the  liquor-dealers  were  so  intrenched  behind 
law,  so  sheltered  in  politics,  so  guarded  and  sustained 
by  the  government,  that  they  were  an  oligarchy  that 
could  dictate  to  statesmen,  and  control  legislatures,  and 
defy  public  sentiment.  Restrictive  laws  in  most  of  the 
states  were  weak  and  inoperative,  and  the  demand  for 
“free  rum”  and  a “free  Sabbath”  was  fierce  and  loud, 
and  many  of  the  old  barriers  against  drunkenness  and 
lewdness  and  crime  were  being  broken  down.  The  gov- 
ernment of  our  large  cities  was  largely  in  the  hands  of 
liquor-dealers  or  the  creatures  of  their  choice,  and  the 
police  force  under  their  control;  many  of  the  courts 
were  overawed  or  corrupted;  Justice  was  perverted, 
and  Right  and  Truth  trampled  under  foot.  There  was 
no  redress  anywhere  for  those  who  had  been  wronged 
and  ruined  by  the  liquor  traffic ; for  the  liquor  oligar- 
chy, which  was  largely  made  up  of  foreigners,  had  the 
government  by  the  throat,  and  compelled  her  “to  drink 
of  the  wine  of  the  wrath  of  her  fornication.” 

Spies  were  in  the  secret  chambers  of  the  govern- 


28 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE. 


ment ; men  high  in  places  of  trust  guarded  the  liquor 
interests;  enormous  frauds  were  planned  and  carried 
forward  year  after  year;  men  who  ought  to  have  been 
in  the  penitentiary  were  lobbying  their  schemes  for 
plunder  through  legislative  bodies;  the  air  of  the 
national  council  chamber  was  reeking  with  alcohol  and 
tobacco.  There  seemed  no  hope  for  us  or  our  coun- 
try. Congress  was  so  much  under  the  influence  of  the 
rum  power  that  they  refused  even  to  look  into  the 
matter  when  “a  commission  of  inquiry”  was  asked  for 
by  Imndreds  of  thG^isands  of  the  best  people  in  the  land, 
lest  they  should  give  offence  to  the  liquor  oligarchy. 
Party  managers  were  careful  to  lay  down  their  plat- 
forms so  that  liquor-dealers  could  stand  securely  on 
every  plank,  no  matter  how  many  honest,  worthy  citi- 
zens were  crowded  off. 

The  nation  was  living  on  her  own  vitals.  For  every 
thousand  dollars  received  from  the  liquor  oligarchy, 
the  government  sacrificed  one  of  her  own  citizens. 
Sixty  millions  of  dollars  received — sixty  thousand  men 
sacrificed  annually  on  this  putrid  altar  of  sin. 

This  was  asserted  over  and  over  ag-ain  till  the  whole 
land  rang-  with  it,  but  the  government  was  too  much 
under  the  control  of  liquor-dealers,  who  counselled 
silence  and  secrecy,  to  investigate  the  charge.  Legis- 
latures cowering  before  the  liquor  power  spent  their 
time  making  laws  for  the  protection  of  the  beasts  of 
the  field,  and  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  the  fishes  of  the 
sea,  while  thousands  of  men  and  women  who  were  “of 
more  value  than  many  sparrows”  were  going  down  to 
death.  Men  were  fined  for  allowing  Canada  thistles 

o 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE.  29 

to  grow  on  their  land,  but  saloons  were  allowed  to 
scatter  the  thistle-down  of  profanity,  lewdness,  theft, 
robbery  and  murder  broadcast.  And  any  attempt  to 
stop  the  ruinous  work  was  branded  by  liquor-dealers 
as  a gross  usurpation  of  authority. 

So  the  people  were  intimidated,  and  the  drink  curse 
fitted  down  into  every  fold  of  society,  and  rested  like 
a heavy,  crushing  weight  on  every  heart  and  home. 
The  darkness  was  intense.  None  but  the  angels  of 
God,  whose  wings  of  light  parted  the  clouds  of  gloom 
as  they  came  down  on  errands  of  mercy — none  but  the 
white-robed  saints,  who  went  with  weary  feet  bearing 
the  lamp  of  truth  into  the  habitations  of  cruelty,  into 
the  saloons,  and  brothels  and  jails — knew,  or  guessed 
half  of  the  sin  and  sorrow  curtained  away  behind  the 
black  folds  of  the  liquor  traffic. 

The  slaves  of  appetite  were  not  the  only  ones  who 
writhed  beneath  the  iron  heel  of  rum,  and  felt  its  hell- 
ish, fiery  breath.  The  innocent  suffered  with  the 
guilty.  This  black,  fathomless  gulf  of  death  swept 
right  alongside  of  Christian  homes,  and  children  trained 
in  the  lessons  of  truth  with  loving  care,  consecrated 
at  family  altars  and  in  the  church,  were  swept  away 
from  purity,  home,  mother  and  heaven,  and  cursing 
God,  went  down,  down  with  the  mighty  throng  into  the 
dark  abyss  of  a drunkard’s  grave  and  a drunkard’s  hell. 

The  church,  in  the  presence  of  these  evils  she  was 
commissioned  to  overthrow,  was  criminally  silent  and 
inactive,  and  many  of  the  watchmen  on  the  walls  of 
Zion  were  dumb,  and  gave  no  warning  voice  when  they 
saw  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 


30  THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE. 

Temperance  was  not  popular.  Many  who  were 
abstainers  said:  “’It  is  folly  to  war  against  the  drink 
system;  men  will  sell  as  long  as  men  will  drink,  and 
no  power  can  stop  men  from  drinking.”  Temperance 
societies  that  had  labored  heroically  for  nearly  a half 
century  were  holding  their  own  against  fearful  odds — 
fighting  the  battle  single-handed. 

The  women  were  hopeless.  Oh,  the  agony,  the 
tears,  the  sleepless  nights,  the  heart-breaking  anguish 
that  wives  and  mothers  suffered  during  those  long, 
bitter  years  of  sorrow  and  silence,  when  few  seemed 
to  care  that  the  demon  had  come  into  their  houses  and 
was.  doing  his  bloody  work.  When  their  hearts  were 
breaking,  if  they  cried  out  in  their  agony  or  ventured 
a protest  in  the  saloon  or  court,  the  liquor  oligarchy 
howled  them  down  with  the  “mad  dog  cry”  of  “Strong- 
minded,”  “Unwomanly,”  “Go  home,  old  woman,  and 
mend  your  husband’s  breeches,”  “Go  home  and  darn 
your  stockings ; ” and  the  world  joined  in  the  laugh 
of  scorn,  and  the  church  made  no  defence  of  the 
wronged  and  broken-hearted.  And  so  the  money  that 
ought  to  have  come  to  them  to  buy  new  clothing,  went 
into  the  tills  of  the  liquor-dealers,  and  they  stayed  at 
home  till  the  home  was  gone,  and  mended  garments 
till  there  were  no  garments  to  mend.  No  pen  can 
portray  the  utter  hopelessness  of  the  women  into  whose 
homes  the  drink  curse  had  come.  The  men  who  had 
sworn  at  the  altar  to  protect  and  honor  them  had  be- 
come demons  from  whom  they  fled  in  fear ; the  white- 
souled  children  they  had  nurtured  with  tenderest  care, 
and  cradled  with  prayer  and  Christian  song,  had  be- 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE.  3 1 

come  loathsome  sots,  too  low  and  brutish  for  compan- 
ionship. They  had  been  robbed  of  all- — property,  so- 
cial position,  brothers,  husbands,  sons,  love  and  hope. 

Nor  were  their  more  fortunate  sisters  free  from  care. 
The  gulf  of  ruin  was  near  each  door,  and  an  undefined 
dread,  an  awful  foreboding,  was  in  the  heart  of  every 
thoughtful  wife  and  mother  lest  all  she  loved  should 
be  swallowed  up  in  its  black  depths. 

Countless  unspoken  prayers  went  up  to  God.  Wo- 
men weeping  and  praying  through  the  long  night- 
watches  appealed  their  cause,  lost  in  so  many  of  the 
courts  of  earth,  to  the  Supreme  Cou7'’t  of  Heaven. 

Suddenly  the  world  was  startled  by  a flash  of 
heavenly  light.  Hands  of  faith  had  touched  the  hem 
of  power,  and  a mighty  spiritual  swirl  came  down  upon 
the  people.  Christian  women,  many  of  whom  had 
never  spoken  or  prayed  in  their  own  churches,  under 
this  Pentecostal  baptism  went  into  the  streets  and 
saloons  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  the  people 
gathered  by  thousands  to  listen  to  the  truths  that  fell 
from  their  lips. 

The  air  seemed  surcharged  with  spiritual  forces. 
The  angel  of  the  Lord  that  John  the  Revelator  saw 
was  before  the  altar,  “ and  there  was  given  him  much 
incense,  that  he  should  offer  it  with  the  prayers  of  all 
saints  upon  the  altar  which  was  before  the  throne. 
And  the  smoke  of  the  incense  which  came  with  the 
prayers  of  all  saints  ascended  up  before  God  out  of 
the  angel’s  hand. 

“And  the  angel  took  the  censer  and  filled  it  with  fire 
of  the  altar,  and  cast  it  into  the  earth,  and  there  were 


32 


THE  WOMAN  S TEMPERANCE  CRUSADE. 


voices  and  thunderings  and  lightnings  and  an  earth- 
quake.” 

The  whole  nation  was  stirred.  Never  before  had 
men  so  trembled  under  the  power  of  prayer,  or  stood 
in  such  awe  of  the  fierce  lightnings  of  God’s  wrath. 
Never  before  had  society  been  so  shaken  by  a moral 
earthquake. 

The  women  who  kept  step  with  God  in  his  grand 
onward  marchings  were  calm  and  serene.  To  them 
the  thunder  and  lightning  was  but  the  roll  and  rumble 
of  God’s  artillery  turned  against  their  enemies,  and  the 
earthquake  the  tread  of  their  Captain  and  his  mighty 
hosts.  Inspired  by  a heaven-born  heroism,  they  went 
into  the  saloons,  and  facing  the  liquor-dealers  in  the 
midst  of  their  deadly  work,  entreated  them  in  God’s 
name  to  give  up  their  business  and  seek  pardon  and 
salvation  in  Christ. 

Delicately  nurtured  women,  who  had  not  felt  the 
awful  evil  in  their  own  homes,  and  who  had  passed  by 
on  the  other  side  and  hardly  ventured  to  look  toward 
the  dens  where  their  neighbors’  children  were  being 
murdered  by  the  slow  tortures  that  kill  soul  and  body, 
marched  boldly  into  the  saloons  and  on  into  the  back 
rooms  where  the  awful  secrets  of  sin  and  debauchery 
are  hid  away,  and  preached  to  the  spirits  in  prison 
there.  Men  who  walked  among  the  tombs  heard 
through  them  the  voice  of  the  Master  and  were  deliv- 
ered. 

Public  attention  was  directed  to  the  liquor  traffic  as 
never  before.  A calcium  light  had  been  turned  upon 
it,  and  the  mass  of  the  people  were  horrified  at  what 
they  saw  and  heard. 


THE  woman’s  temperance  CRUSADE.  33 

Liquor-dealers  writhed  under  this  close  scrutiny — 
under  this  blaze  of  light — like  serpents  in  the  fire, 
spitting  forth  their  venom  and  stinging  themselves  in 
their  fury.  But  when  Mrs.  Thompson  and  the  seventy 
women  who  followed  her  went  out  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Hillsboro’,  Ohio,  singing, 

“ Give  to  the  winds  your  fears  ; 

Hope  and  be  undismayed  ; 

God  hears  thy  sighs  and  counts  thy  tears : 

God  will  lift  up  thy  head — ” 

they  heralded  a new  dispensation  in  the  temperance 
work — a union  of  the  moral  forces  of  earth  with  the 
invincible  forces  of  heaven,  and  victory  was  assured. 

The  Crusade,  then,  was  God’s  method  of  arousing 
public  sentiment  and  consolidating  the  moral  forces  of 
the  land,  and  women  His  chosen  instruments  for  this 
important  and  unusual  work. 


OHIO. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  CRUSADE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HILLSBORO’,  OHIO. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Dean  K.  Fenner  for  this  able  report:  I have  added  but 

. V 

little  to  It. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  December,  1873,  there 
might  have  been  seen  in  the  streets  of  Hillsboro’,  Ohio, 
persons  singly  or  in  groups  wending  their  way  to 
Music  Hall,  where  a lecture  on  temperance  was  to  be 
delivered  by  Dr,  Dio  Lewis,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Some  account  of  the  town  and  people  of  Hillsboro’ 
is  necessary  in  this  connection.  It  is  a small  place, 
containing  something  more  than  3,000  people,  and 
situated  in  a beautiful  part  of  southern  Ohio.  Owing 
to  the  educational  advantages  of  the  place — there  being 
two  colleges  for  young  ladies  there  and  a large  public 
school — the  inhabitants  are  rather  better  educated  than 
is  usually  the  case  in  small  towns,  and  its  society  is 
indeed  noted  in  that  part  of  the  country  for  its  quietude, 
culture,  and  refinement. 

But  Hillsboro’  was  by  no  means  exempt  from  the 
prevailing  scourge  of  intemperance.  The  early  set- 
tlers of  Hillsboro’  were  mostly  from  \hrginia,  and 
(34) 


THE  MOVEMENT  IN  183O. 


35 


brought  with  them  the  old-fashioned  ideas  of  hospi- 
tality. No  sideboard  was  considered  properly  fur- 
nished unless  the  usual  supply  of  decanters  and 
glasses  was  there.  The  habit  of  drinking  was  almost 
the  rule.  For  many  years  previous  to  the  crusade  the 
professional  men,  and  especially  of  the  bar,  were  nearly 
all  habitual  drinkers,  and  many  of  them  very  dissipated. 
Of  course  the  influence  of  their  example  was  felt 
everywhere  about  them,  and  extended  to  the  next 
generation.  When  a few  earnest  temperance  men, 
among  whom  was  Governor  Allen  Trimble,  initiated  a 
total  abstinence  movement  in  or  about  the  year  1830, 
the  pulpit  took  up  arms  against  them,  and  a condem- 
natory sermon  was  preached  in  one  of  the  churches. 

Thus  it  was  that  although  from  time  to  time  men, 
good  and  true,  banded  themselves  together  in  efforts 
to  break  up  this  dreadful  state  of  things  and  reform 
society,  all  endeavors  seemed  to  fail  of  any  permanent 
effect.  Outside  appearances  were  indeed  better.  The 
farmers  could  get  their  harvests  in  without  a keg  of 
whiskey,  and  the  family  grocers  no  longer  sold  it  with 
their  tea  and  sugar.  But  in  many  homes  the  light  of 
hope  was  gone  out.  Mothers  were  heart-broken  and 
wives  worse  than  widowed.  Sighs  and  tears  were 
continually  poured  out  from  sorrowing  souls,  who  saw 
no  hand  stretched  out  for  their  deliverance. 

The  plan  laid  down  by  Dr.  Lewis  challenged  atten- 
tion by  its  novelty  at  least.  He  believed  and  argued 
that  the  work  of  temperance  reform  might  be  success- 
fully carried  on  by  women  if  they  would  set  about  it  in 
the  right  manner — going  to  the  saloon-keeper  in.  a 


36  ■ RESPONSE  TO  DR.  LEWIs’  APPEAL. 

Spirit  of  Christian  love,  and  persuading  him  for  the 
sake  of  humanity  and  his  own  eternal  welfare  to  quit 
the  hateful,  soul-destroying  business.  The  doctor 
spoke  with  enthusiasm;  and,  seeing  him  so  full  of 
faith,  the  hearts  of  the  women  seized  the  hope — a 
forlorn  one,  ’tis  true,  but  still  a hope — and  when  Dr. 
Lewis  asked  if  they  were  willing  to  undertake  the 
task,  scores  of  women  rose  to  their  feet,  and  there  was 
no  lack  of  good  men  who  pledged  themselves  to 
encourasfe  and  sustain  the  women  in  their  work. 

A meeting  for  the  further  development  of  the  plan 
was  agreed  upon,  to  be  held  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  ten  o’clock  next  morning,  Wednesday, 
December  24th,  and  at  the  time  appointed  there  was 
gathered  a solemn  assembly.  A strange  work  Avas  to 
be  done,  and  by  unaccustomed  hands. 

On  bended  knee,  and  Avith  uplifted  hearts,  they 
invoked  the  blessingr  and  o-uidance  of  Him  “ aaTo  knoAA^- 
eth  the  end  from  the  beginning,”  and  then  proceeded 
to  the  business  of  the  hour. 

Rev.  W.  J.  McSurely,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  Avas  called  to  the  chair.  A committee  AA'as 
appointed  to  prepare  an  appeal  Avhich  AA^as  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  liquor-sellers ; also  a druggist’s  pledge 
and  a dealer’s  pledge. 

Officers  Avere  then  elected : Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Thompson, 
President;  Mrs.  Sally  McDoAvell,  Vice-President ; Mrs. 
Mary  B.  Fenner,  Secretary. 

Mrs.  Thompson  is  the  daughter  of  ex-Governor 
Trimble,  of  Ohio.  She  is  a lady  of  culture,  about  sixty 
years  of  age,  of  modest  and  pleasant  appearance  and 


MRS.  ELTZA  J.  THOMPSON, 
Leader  of  the  First  Crusade  Band. 


MRS.  Thompson’s  story. 


37 


very  agreeable  manners.  She  speaks  with  great  sim- 
plicity, in  a conversational  style,  and  with  a quaintness 
that  is  peculiarly  attractive.  Whenever  she  addresses 
an  audience  she  is  sure  of  an  attentive  hearingf. 

Her  recital  of 

“THE  FIRST  CRUSADE” 

is  somewhat  on  this  wise  : “ On  the  2 2d  of  last  Decem- 
ber Dr.  Dio  Lewis  lectured  before  our  lyceum.  It  was 
a literary  lecture,  and  the  subject  was  ‘Our  Girls.’  I 
wasn’t  there.  My  boy  came  home  and  said,  ‘ Ma, 
they’ve  got  you  into  business  ; ’ and  went  on  to  tell 
that  Dio  Lewis  had  incidentally  related  the  successful 
effort  of  his  mother,  by  prayer  and  persuasion,  to  close 
the  saloon  in  a town  where  he  lived  when  a boy,  and 
that  he  had  exhorted  the  women  of  Hillsboro’  to  do 
the  same,  and  fifty  had  risen  up  to  signify  their  willing- 
ness, and  that  they  looked  to  me  to  help  them  to  carry 
out  their  promise.  As  I’m  talking  to  you  here  famil- 
iarly, I’ll  go  on  to  say  that  my  husband,  who  had 
retired,  and  was  in  an  adjoining  room,  raised  up  on  his 
elbow  and  called  out,  ‘ Oh  ! that’s  all  tomfoolery  ! ’ I 
remember  I answered  something  like  this;  ‘Well, 
husband,  the  men  have  been  in  the  tomfoolery  busi- 
ness a long  time  ; perhaps  the  Lord  is  going  to  call  us 
into  partnership  with  them.’  I said  no  more.  The 

next  morning  my  brother-in-law.  Colonel  , came 

in  and  told  me  about  the  meeting,  and  said,  ‘ Now,  you 
must  be  sure  to  go  to  the  women’s  meeting  at  the 
church  this  morning;  they  look  to  see  you  there.’ 
Our  folks  talked  it  all  over,  and  my  husband  said, 

‘ Well,  we  all  know  where  your  mother’ll  take  this  case 


3^ 


THK  daughter’s  MESSAGE. 


for  counsel,’  and  then  he  pointed  to  the  Bible  and  left 
the  room. 

“ I went  into  the  corner  of  my  room,  and  knelt  down 
and  opened  my  Bible  to  see  what  God  would  say  to 
me.  Just  at  that  moment  there  was  a tap  on  the  door 
and  my  daughter  entered.  She  was  in  tears  ; she  held 
her  Bible  in  her  hand,  open  to  the  146th  Psalm.  She 
said,  ‘ Ma,  I just  opened  to  this,  and  I think  it  is  for 
you,’  and  then  she  went  away,  and  I sat  down  and 
read 

'THIS  WONDERFUL  MESSAGE  FROM  GOD. 

“‘Put  not  your  trust  in  princes,  nor  in  the  son  of 
man,  in  whom  there  is  no  help.  Happy  is  he  that 
hath  the  God  of  Jacob  for  his  help,  whose  hope  is  in 
the  Lord  his  God;  which  keepeth  truth  forever;  which 
executed!  judgment  for  the  oppressed ; the  Lord 
looseth  the  prisoners ; the  Lord  openeth  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  ; the  Lord  raiseth  them  that  are  bowed  down  ;f 
the  Lord  loveth  the  righteous  ; the  Lord  relieved!  the 
fatherless  and  the  widow — but  the  way  of  the  wicked  he 
turneih  iipside  down.  The  Lord  shall  reign  forever, 
even  thy  God,  O Zion,  unto  all  generations.  Praise  ye 
the  Lord ! ’ 

“ I knew  that  was  for  me,  and  I got  up,  put  on  my 
shoes,  and  started.  I went  to  the  church,  in  this  town 
where  I was  born.  I sat  down  quietly  in  the  back  part 
of  the  audience-room,  by  the  stove.  A hundred  ladies 
were  assembled.  I heard  my  name — heard  the  whisper 
pass  through  the  company,  ‘Here  she  is!’  ‘She’s 
come  1 ’ and  before  I could  get  to  the  pulpit,  they  had 
put  me  ‘ in  office  ’ — I was  their  leader. 


THE  WORDS  WERE  LIKE  FIRE. 


39 


“ Many  of  our  citizens  were  there,  and  our  ministers 
also.  They  stayed  a few  minutes,  and  then  rose  and 
went  out,  saying,  ‘This  is  your  work — we  leave  it  with 
the  women  and  the  Lord.’  When  they  had  gone,  I 
just  opened  the  big  pulpit  Bible  and  read  that  146th 
Psalm,  and  told  them  the  circumstance  of  my  selecting 
it.  The  women  sobbed  so  I could  hardly  go  on. 
When  I had  finished,  I felt  inspired  to  call  on  a dear 
Presbyterian  lady  to  pray.  She  did  so  without  the 
least  hesitation,  though  it  was  the  first  audible  prayer 
in  her  life.  I can’t  tell  you  anything  about  that  prayer, 
only  that  the  words  were  like  fire. 

“ When  she  had  prayed,  I said — and  it  all  came  to 
me  just  at  the  moment — 

‘NOW,  LADIES,  LET  US  FILE  OUT,  TWO  BY  TWO, 
the  smallest  first,  and  let  us  sing  as  we  go, 

“ Give  to  the  winds  thy  fears.”  ’ 

“We  went  first  to  John ’s  saloon.  Now,  John 

was  a German,  and  his  sister  had  lived  in  my  family 
thirteen  years,  and  she  was  very  mild  and  gentle,  and 
I hoped  it  might  prove  a family  trait,  but  I found  out 
it  wasn’t.  He  fumed  about  dreadfully  and  said,  ‘It’s 
awful ; it’s  a sin  and  a shame  to  pray  in  a saloon  ! ’ But 
we  prayed  right  on  just  the  same.” 

That  the  choice  was  dictated  by  God  we  must  be- 
lieve, for  in  all  the  trials  and  discouragements  which 
have  beset  us,  and  they  have  been  many,  her  trust  in 
God  has  never  failed.  She  had  tested  his  faithfulness 
through  many  years  of  heavy  and  sore  trouble,  and 


40 


FIRST  SALOON  PRAYER-MEETING 


had  proved  that  his  promises  are  “Yea  and  amen,  to 
them  that  believe.”  And  no  other  woman  could  have 
kept  up  such  a spirit  of  courage  and  hopefulness  in 
the  little  band  of  devoted  women^  who  have  met  week 
after  week,  all  these  years,  to  pray  for  God’s  blessing 
on  the  work. 

After  the  election  of  officers,  came  the  plan  for  work. 
It  was  decided  to  g^o  to  the  drug  stores  first,  so  that 
the  saloonists  might  not  plead  their  example  as  an  ex- 
cuse for  themselves. 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Boyd  was  chosen  to  present  the  appeal 
on  that  visit.  All  the  druggists  signed  the  pledge 
except  Mr.  Dunn,  of  whom  more  hereafter. 

Next  day  the  ladies  held  another  meeting,  but  de- 
cided not  to  make  any  visitations,  it  being  Christmas- 
day,  and  the  hotel-keepers  more  than  usually  busy  and 
not  likely  to  listen  very  attentively  to  our  proposition. 

On  the  26th,  the  hotels  and  saloons  were  visited ; 
Mrs.  Thompson  presenting  the  appeal.  And  it  was  on 
this  morning,  and  at  the  saloon  of  Robert  Ward,  that 
there  came  a break  in  the  established  routine.  “ Bob  ” 
was  a social,  jolly  sort  of  fellow,  and  his  saloon  was  a 
favorite  resort,  and  there  were  many  women  in  the 
company  that  morning  whose  hearts  were  aching  in 
consequence  of  his  wrong-doing.  Mrs.  Thompson 
presented  the  appeal,  another  lady  read  a selection  in 
the  Bible,  and  then  Mrs.  Thompson  began  to  talk  to 
him  ; and  she  did  it  with  her  heart  all  stirred  up  by  the 
memory  of  the  wrongs  the  man  had  done  to  many 
whose  weakness  he  had  taken  advantage  of,  dragging 
them  down  to  disgrace  and  ruin.  Ward  was  evidently 


SALOON-KEEPER  IN  TEARS. 


41 


touched.  He  confessed  that  it  was  a “bad  business,” 
said  if  he  could  only  “ afford  to  quit  it  he  would,”  and 
then  tears  began  to  flow  from  his  eyes.  Many  of  the 
ladies  were  weeping,  and  at  length,  as  if  by  inspiration, 
Mrs.  Thompson  kneeled  on  the  floor  of  the  saloon,  all 
kneeling  with  her,  even  the  saloonist,  and  prayed, 
pleading  with  indescribable  pathos  and  earnestness  for 
the  conversion  and  salvation  of  this  and  all  saloon- 
keepers. When  the  amen  was  sobbed  rather  than 
spoken,  Mrs.  Washington  Doggett’s  sweet  voice  be- 
gan, “There  is  a fountain,”  etc.,  in  which  all  joined; 
the  effect  was  most  solemn,  and  when  the  hymn  was 
finished  the  ladies  went  quietly  away,  and  that  was  the 
first  saloon  prayer-meeting. 

This  is  a fair  specimen  of  the  saloon  visiting  as 
carried  on  in  Hillsboro’  for  more  than  three  months. 
Then  the  doors  were  locked  and  the  prayer-meetings 
were  held  on  the  pavements ; extreme  care  was  taken 
not  to  obstruct  the  passage-way. 

Mr.  W.  H.  H:  Dunn,  the  druggist,  who  refused  to 
sign  the  druggist’s  pledge,  and  who  was  known  to  be 
selling  whiskey  for  drinking,  and  to  minors,  too,  in  dis- 
obedience of  the  law,  became  very  much  incensed  at 
the  continuous  effort  on  the  part  of  the  women  to  per- 
suade him  to  sign  the  pledge,  and  I may  say  here  that 
not  the  women  alone  plead  with  him  ; a petition  signed 
by  a large  number  of  the  leading  men  of  the  place 
was  presented  to  him  by  two  of  the  oldest  and  most 
respected  citizens,  without  the  least  effect.  Let  it  be 
said  as  some  excuse  for  him  that  he  had  bad  advisers, 
and  that  large  sums  of  money  were  sent  him  by  the 


42 


BATTLE  WITH  DUNN,  THE  DRUGGIST. 


Whiskey  Ring,  that  he  might  be  able  to  fight  the  Cru- 
saders in  the  courts. 

The  first  thing  done  was  the  issuing  of  a “pronun- 
ciamento,”  forbidding  the  women  to  sing  and  pray  on 
his  store  steps,  or  on  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  his  store. 
This  was  printed  on  slips  of  paper,  and  copies  scat- 
tered over  the  town,  and  about  the  front  of  the  drug 
store  in  question.  This  was  early  in  the  morning  of 
the  31st  January,  1874,  and  when  the  hour  came  for  the 
usual  prayer-meeting,  there  was  a great  questioning 
as  to  what  was  to  be  done ; finally,  some  of  the  gen- 
tlemen said  the  ladies  should  go  on  the  street  as  usual, 
and  that  by  the  time  they  had  gone  the  round  of  the 
saloons,  a place  would  be  ready  in  front  of  Mr.  Dunn’s. 

Accordingly,  in  an  hour  or  two,  there  was  erected 
in  front  of  the  drug  store  a covered  structure,  made 
of  boards  and  canvas,  enclosed  on  three  sides,  and 
open  on  the  side  next  the  store.  The  ladies  soon  took 
possession  and  held  a prayer-meeting. 

Mr.  Dunn  could  not  stand  that,  so  he  applied  to 
Judge  Safford,  then  presiding  at  court  in  Hillsboro’,  for 
an  injunction  against  this  “ tabernacle.”  The  injunc- 
tion was  granted,  and  a notice  served  on  Mr.  Sayler, 
a very  active  temperance  man,  after  he  had  gone  to 
bed.  It  was  Saturday  night,  and  in  order  that  he 
might  obey  the  law  and  still  keep  the  Sabbath,  he 
dressed  himself,  procured  some  help,  and  had  every- 
thing removed  by  twelve  o’clock.  An  appeal  was  made 
at  once  by  the  temperance  people  for  dissolution  of  the 
injunction  ; the  case  was  heard  by  Judge  Steele,  at  the 
February  term  of  court,  and  the  injunction  dissolved 


A LAWYER  CONFOUNDED  BY  PRAYER. 


43 


on  the  finding  of  a legal  flaw  in  the  application  of  the 
plaintiff".  But  Mr.  Dunn  was  not  to  be  quieted.  He 
now  brought  a suit  for  “ trespass  ” against  the  Crusad- 
ers, and  asked  ^10,000  damages. 

This  suit  was  heard  before  Judge  Gray,  at  the  May 
term  of  court,  1875.  Able  counsel  was  employed  on 
both  sides.  The  question  was  felt  to  be  a vital  one, 
and  the  court- room  was  crowded  to  overflowino-  for 

o 

seventeen  days.  The  examination  of  witnesses  occu- 
pied thirteen  or  fourteen  days,  though  not  nearly  all 
of  the  two  hundred  were  called  to  the  stand. 

One  incident  of  this  trial  must  be  told.  It  happened 
during  Judge  Saffbrd’s  speech,  onei  of  Mr.  Dunn’s 
counsel.  There  was  in  the  court-room  a dear  old  lady, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Foreaker,  a genuine  mother  in  Israel, 
who,  full  of  faith,  prayed  much  during  the  trial,  and 
while  Judge  Saffbrd  was  speaking,  prayed  especially 
that  he  mDht  be  “confounded.”  He  had  been  uoingr 
along  swimmingly,  and  entirely  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  friends,  Avhen  suddenly  he  seemed  to  lose  the 
thread  of  his  argument,  dropped  his  eye-glasses  two  or 
three  times,  could  not  find  his  references,  made  quota- 
tions not  bearing  on  the  points  he  was  trying  to  estab- 
lish, and  his  embarrassment  was  so  obvious  that  Mrs. 
F.  said  afterward  she  did  not  know  but  she  had 
“prayed  too  hard.”  The  judge  did  not  recover  him- 
self, and  one  of  Dunn’s  friends  went  over  to  the  hotel 
and  reported  the  case  as  “lost,”  that  Judge  Safford 
had  ruined  it. 

The  jury  were  compelled  by  the  ruling  of  the  court 
to  bring  a verdict  against  the  defendants,  and  laid  the 


44 


THE  DRUGGIST’  A BANKRUPT. 


costs  on  them,  with  |5  damages.  Counsel  for  the  de- 
fence made  a bill  of  exceptions  to  the  rulings  of  Judge 
Gray,  and  the  case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State.  It  is  still  pending,  but  will  probably  be 
dismissed,  as  Mr.  W.  H.  H.  Dunn  is  now  a bankmpt. 

Sayle7'-  owns  the  store,  and  Mr.  Dunn’s  assignee 
will  not  defend  the  suit  in  Supreme  Court. 

The  “ street  work  ” was  not  resumed  after  the  Dunn 
suits  began.  It  was  thought  best  not  to  defy  the  law 
even  in  appearance  until  the  decision  of  the  courts 
should  be  known.  But  there  was  plenty  to  do.  The 
new  constitution  was  about  to  be  presented  to  the 
people  of  Ohio,  and  “ License  ” or  “ No  License  ” was 
the  great  question.  The  women  girded  themselves  for 
the  strife.  Into  the  school  districts  and  smaller  towns 
they  went  in  little  parties,  held  meetings,  organized 
leagues,  circulated  petitions,  and  kept  on  praying. 
The  license  clause  was  defeated. 

A few  miles  north  of  Hillsboro’  is  the  little  villaofe 
of  L . It  Is  quite  a pleasant  little  place ; the  peo- 

ple are  intelligent ; there  are  two  churches,  good 
schools,  and  a few  stores,  etc.  But  there  was  one 
drawback  to  the  peace  of  the  community,  and  that  was 
the  drinking-saloon  attached  to  the  hotel.  The  pro- 
prietor was  one  of  the  oldest  citizens,  and  when  the 
Crusade  began  it  was  hoped  that  he  would  at  once 
come  over  on  the  temperance  side.  But  as  he  did  not, 
there  was  a meetingr  called  in  the  little  white  church  to 

o 

consider  what  should  be  done.  The  meetinor  was  lars^e, 
and  after  a prayer,  a visiting  committee  of  ladies  went 
down  to  Mr. ’s  saloon.  He  mek  them  at  the  door. 


JUDGMENTS  ON  A SALOON-KEEPER.  45 

and  very  kindly  invited  them  into  the  parlor  with  his 
amiable  wife  and  daughter.  There  they  talked  the 
matter  over,  but  he  refused  to  sign  the  pledge.  The 
next  day  they  called  again,  and  he  was  very  angry  and 
locked  the  door;  but  on  the  third  day,  seeing  that  the 
whole  community  was  roused,  he  grew  calm,  and  said, 
“Ladies,  I will  not  sign  your  pledge;  but  I will  prom- 
ise you  in  the  presence  of  God  that  I will  never  sell 
another  drop  of  liquor  in  this  town  after  the  20th  of 
this  month,  and  if  I violate  my  word  you  may  have 
every  cent  I am  worth.  I will  walk  out  and  you  may 
walk  in.”  He  kept  his  word  for  a while,  but  the  temp- 
tation to  put  a few  more  dimes  in  his  pocket  was  too 
strong,  and  he  secretly  bought  another  barrel  of  whis- 
key. Just  at  this  time  several  of  the  leading  temper- 
ance women  were  sick  and  could  not  visit  him,  but 
“ God  met  him.”  The  quiet  village  was  alarmed  by 
the  cry  of  “fire ! ” It  was  the  hotel.  It  caught  from  a 
segar  thrown  into  a sawdust  spittoon  in  the  saloon. 
While  it  was  burning,  a lady  said,  “ O,  dear  ! our  town 
is  built  so  compactly,  it  will  all  burn.”  “Never  thee 
fear,”  said  a good  Quaker  sister,  “ not  a building  will 
burn  but  that  one.  Don’t  thee  see  ? not  a leaf  is  mov- 
ing; the  flames  go  straight  up,  and  the  sparks  fall 
back  on  the  house.”  She  was  right.  The  hotel,  store, 
saloon,  and  all  belonging  to  it  were  entirely  burned, 
while  not  another  house  caught  fire.  Unappalled  by 

this  judgment,  Mr. built  a room  on  the  same  lot 

in  which  to  sell  whiskey,  but  became  paralyzed,  and  in 
a short  time  died  a miserable  death.  There  is  no 
whiskey  now  sold  in  L . 


46 


AWFUL  WORDS  OF  DEALERS. 


I want  to  relate  one  or  two  little  incidents  that  show 
the  hardening  effect  of  liquor-selling  on  the  dealer. 

There  was  a saloon-keeper  brought  from  Greenfield 

to  H to  be  tried  under  the  Adair  law.  The  poor 

mother  who  broucrht  the  suit  had  besought  him  not  to 

o o 

sell  to  her  son — “her  only  son.”  He  replied  roughly 
that  he  would  sell  to  him  “as  long  as  he  had  a dime.” 
Another  mother,  an  old  lady,  made  the  same  request, 
“lest,”  she  said,  “he  may  some  day  fill  a drunkard’s 
grave.”  “ Madam,”  he  replied,  “your  son  has  as  good 
a right  to  fill 'a  drunkard’s  grave  as  any  other  mother’s 
son.”  And  in  one  of  the  Hillsboro’  saloons  a lady  saw 

her  nephew.  “ O,  Mr.  B ,”  said  she,  “ don’t  sell 

whiskey  to  that  boy ; if  he  has  one  drink  he  will  want 
another,  and  he  may  die  a drunkard,  “hladam,  I will 
sell  to  him  if  it  sends  his  soul  to  hell,”  was  the  awful 
reply.  The  last  man  is  a peculiarly  hard,  stony  sort 
of  man  ; his  lips  look  as  if  chiselled  out  of  flint,  a man 
to  be  afraid  of.  One  mornino-,  when  the  visiting  band 
reached  his  door,  they  found  him  in  a very  bad  humor. 
He  locked  his  door  and  seated  himself  on  the  horse- 
block in  front  in  a perfect  rage,  clenched  his  fist, 
swore  furiously,  and  ordered  us  to  go  home.  Some 
gentlemen,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  after- 
wards said  that  they  were  watching  the  scene,  ready 
to  rush  over  and  defend  the  ladies  from  an  attack,  and 
they  were  sure  it  would  come  ; but  one  of  the  ladies, 
a sweet-souled  woman,  gentle  and  placid,  kneeled  just 
at  his  feet,  and  poured  out  such  a tender,  earnest 
prayer  for  him,  that  he  quieted  down  entirely,  and 
when  she  rose  and  offered  him  her  hand  in  token  of 
kind  feeling,  he  could  not  refuse  to  take  it. 


A CONVERSION  FOLLOWED  BY  A REVIVAL. 


47 


But  it  was  not  always  stormy;  sometimes  it  was 
summer-sunshine,  as  witness:  One  bright  Saturday 
afternoon,  while  we  were  singing  the  sweet  songs  of 
Zion  and  offering  prayer,  an  old  gentleman,  a stranger 
to  us  all,  stood  at  a little  distance  from  our  band,  and 
while  listening  to  us  was  led  by  the  Spirit  to  give  his 
heart  to  God.  He  went  to  his  home  bearinor  the  Had 

o o 

tidines  to  his  friends.  He  told  it  in  church  the  follow- 
ing  Sabbath,  and  a revival  began  then  which  resulted 
in  many  conversions. 

As  I go  over  these  facts  of  a time  so  full  of  interest, 
I recall  the  figure  of  a venerable,  dignified  old  gentle- 
man, full  of  vicfor  and  enthusiasm,  though  the  frosts  of 
seventy-five  winters  had  whitened  his  head  ; this  was 
General  Jos.  J.  McDowell,  the  husband  of  our  vice- 
president.  His  interest  kept  pace  with  the  work,  he 
was  at  nearly  all  the  meetings,  and  had  ever  a word 
of  counsel  or  encouragement  for  the  women.  But 
there  was  one  thing  lacking.  He  was  not  a professing 
Ghristian,  and  his  many  friends  grew  sad  when  they 
saw  that  he  was  drawinof  so  near  the  close  of  life  with- 
out  the  only  hope  that  can  lighten  the  pathway  to  the 
tomb.  The  time  came,  however,  for  the  Spirit  to  do 
its  work.  The  ladies  had  been  holding  a series  of 
relig^ious  meetings  in  their  consecrated  league  room, 
morning  after  morning,  for  two  months  (January  and 
February,  1876).  The  presence  of  the  One  Mighty 
to  save  and  strong  to  deliver  was  gloriously  manifest- 
ing himself,  and  on*  one  of  these  mornings  General 
McDowell  came  in  and  took  his  seat.  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son, who  was  leading  the  meeting  on  that  occasion. 


48  PRAYER  ANSWERED  AFTER  FIFTY  YEARS. 

after  a very  touching  hymn  had  been  sung,  Scripture 
read,  and  prayer  offered,  proposed  spending  a short 
time  in  testimony.  One  and  another  had  spoken,  when 

Mrs.  T said,  in  a kind,  familiar  way,  “General 

McDowell,  we  are  most  happy  to  have  you  with  us 
this  morning,  and  as  you  have  so  often  encouraged 
our  hearts  in  our  temperance  work,  we  should  love  to 
hear  yo2i  speak." 

He  arose  slowly,  and  in  a very  solemn  manner  said, 

“ I do  not  feel  worthy  to  speak  on  sacred  subjects 
before  you  good  women.”  After  some  hesitation  he 
resumed,  “ I have  been  a great  sinner  ; for  many  years, 
especially  during  the  war,  I had  almost  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  there  was  no  such  thinpf  as  relimon. 
but  seeing  the  spirit  of  divine  love  displayed  by  the 
crusading  ladies  of  our  town,  as  they  have  knelt  on 
snoio.  even,  in  front  of  the  barred  doors  of  these  worse 
than  murderers,  to  pray  for  their  souls  ; and  as  in  the 
churches  I have  watched  the  tears  stream  down  their 
cheeks  as  they  have  prayed  the  divine  blessing  upon 
them  and  their  families,  I have  felt  my  heart  soften. 
Now  I feel  that  I can  say  I love  the  Saviour T The 
scene  that  followed  can  be  better  imaeined  than 
described,  as  that  devoted  wife,  who  had  prayed  for 
her  noble  husband  for  more  than  fifty  years,  received 
him  a new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus.  All  were  bap- 
tized afresh  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  we  grasped  with 
firmer  hold  the  hand  of  our  Almighty  Friend  who  had 
bidden  us  walk  upon  the  untried  waves,  December 
23d,  1873. 

Since  the  departure  of  this  dear  friend  of  the  Crusade 


SALVATION  OF  A tONGRESSMAN. 


49 


to  the  “ Home  of  the  Soul,”  for  which  home  he  was 
rapidly  mahu'ed,  wonderful  developments  of  divine 
mercy  have  been  displayed  in  our  highly-favored  town, 
Hillsboro’.  Last  spring  a gracious  revival  resulted 
from  the  “ union  services  ” of  the  Quaker  Evangelists, 
Nathan  and  Esther  Erame.  Scores  of  young  men 
were  converted  during  these  meetings  who  had  been 
the  objects  of  our  eamiest  and  special  prayers.  Many 
a mother’s  heart  was  made  glad,  and  the  churches  all 
received  their  dead  raised  to  life  aa-ain. 

o 

Thus  God  prepared  our  community  for  the  glorious 
dawn  of  the  Murphy  movement,  and  wonderfully 
qualified  by  reformation  based  upoii  convei'sion,  our 
Congressman  elect,  Hon.  Henry  Dickey,  for  its  inaugu- 
ration. The  first  Murphy  meeting  Avas  held  on  the 
evening  of  May  15th,  1877,  and  the  first  men  to  sign 
the  pledge  were  some  of  our  prominent  citizens  in 
every  profession  ; but  pre-eminently  the  lawyers,  men 
of  talent  and  influence,  but  whose  habit  of  intemper- 
ance had  long  been  a source  of  grief  and  anxiety  to 
their  friends.  Three  hundred  signed  the  pledge  upon 
the  first  evening ; within  two  weeks  over  two  thousand 
names  were  upon  the  roll ; some  of  the  most  energetic 
workers  in  the  movement  were  men  Avho  were  fore- 
most in  opposing  the  Crusade,  unsparing  and  bitter  in 
their  invectives  arainst  all  concerned.  That  which 

o 

fills  us  with  astonishment  and  devout  thankseivinp-  is 
the  desire  evinced  by  these  men,  that  old  scores  be 
wiped  out,  and  Christian  women  come  to  the  front  and 
help  in  the  cause  by  their  presence  and  sympathy.” 

4 


50 


THE  BONFIRE  OF  WHISKEY. 


BAPTIZED  IN  WHISKEY. 

Among'  the  many  interesting  incidents  of  work  re- 
ported at  the  Woman’s  Temperance  Camp-Ivleeting 
at  Ocean  Grove  was  the  following,  related  by  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Thompson,  of  Hillsboro’ : 

“ During  the  Crusade,  a saloon-keeper  consented  to 
close  his  business.  There  was  a great  deal  of  enthu- 
siasm and  interest,  and  we  women  decided  to  compen- 
sate the  man  for  his  whiskey  and  make  a bonfire  of  it 
in  the  street.  A great  crowd  gathered  about  the 
saloon,  and  the  barrels  of  whiskey  were  rolled  out  to 
the  public  square  where  we  were  to  have  our  bonfire. 
Myself  and  two  other  little  women,  avIio  had  been 
chosen  to  knock  in  the  heads,  and  had  come  to  the 
place  with  axes  concealed  under  our  shawls,  went  to 
our  work  with  a will. 

“ I didn’t  know  I was  so  strong,  but  I lifted  that  axe 
like  a woodman  and  brought  it  down  Avith  such  force 
that  the  first  blow  stove  in  the  head  of  a barrel  and 
splashed  the  whiskey  in  every  direction.  I was  liter- 
ally baptized  with  the  noxious  stuff.  The  intention 
was  to  set  it  on  fire,  and  we  had  brought  matches  for 
that  purpose,  but  it  would  not  buj'u  ! It  was  a villa- 
nous  compound  of  some  sort,  but  we  had  set  out  to 
have  a fire,  and  were  determined  by  some  means  or 
other  to  make  it  burn,  so  we  sent  for  some  coal  oil  and 
poured  it  on  and  we  soon  had  a blaze.  The  man  who 
could  sell  such  liquors  would  not  be  likely  to  keep  the 
pledge.  He  is  selling  liquors  again.” 


A COMBINED  EFFORT.  5 1 

VICTORY  AT  WASHINGTON  C.  H. 

Most  of  the  facts  in  the  following  history  of  the 
work  at  Washington  C.  H.  have  been  gleaned  from 
the  official  report  of  the  secretary,  Mrs.  M.  V.  Ustlck. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Crusade  began  in  this  town 
only  two  days  later  than  at  Hillsboro'.  And  Washing- 
ton C.  H.  was  the  first  place  where  the  Crusade  was 
made  prominent  and  successful. 

“ On  Friday  morning,  Dec.  26th,  1873,  after  an  hour 
of  prayer  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  forty-four  women  filed 
slowly  and  solemnly  down  the  aisle,  and  started  forth 
upon  their  strange  mission  with  fear  and  trembling, 
while  the  male  portion  of  the  audience  remained  at  the 
church  to  pray  for  the  success  of  this  new  undertaking  ; 
the  tolling  of  the  church-bell  keeping  time  to  the 
solemn  march  of  the  women,  as  they  wended  their 
way  to  the  first  drug  store  on  the  list.  (The  number 
of  places  within  the  city  limits  where  intoxicating 
drinks  were  sold  was  fourteen — eleven  saloons  and 
three  drug  stores.)  Here,  as  in  every  place,  they 
entered  singing,  every  woman  taking  up  the  sacred 
strain  as  she  crossed  the  threshold.  This  was  followed 
by  the  reading  of  the  appeal  and  prayer ; then  earnest 
pleading  to  desist  from  their  soul-destroying  traffic 
and  sign  the  dealer’s  pledge. 

Thus,  all  the  day  long,  they  went  from  place  to  place,, 
without  stopping  even  for  dinner  or  lunch,  till  five 
o’clock,  meeting  with  no  marked  success  ; but  invaria- 
bly courtesy  was  extended  to  them ; not  even  their 
reiterated  promise,  “We  will  call  again,”  seeming  to 
offend. 


52 


KNEELING  IN  THE  SNOW  TO  PRAY. 


No  woman  who  has  ever  entered  one  of  these  dens 
of  iniquity  on  such  an  errand  needs  to  be  told  of  the 
heart-sickness  that  almost  overcame  them  as  they,  for 
the  first  time,  saw  behind  those  painted  windows  or 
green  blinds,  or  entered  the  little  stifling  “ back-room,” 
or  found  their  way  down  winding  steps  into  the  damp, 
dark  cellars,  and  realized  that  into  sitch places  those 
they  loved  best  were  being  landed,  through  the  allure- 
ments of  the  brilliantly  lighted  drug  store,  the  fascinat- 
ing billiard-table,  or  the  enticing  beer-gardens,  with 
their  syren  attractions.  A crowded  house  at  night, 
to  hear  the  report  of  the  day’s  work,  betrayed  the 
rapidly  increasing  interest  in  this  mission. 

On  the  27th  the  contest  really  began,  and,  at  the 
first  place,  the  doors  were  found  locked.  With  hearts 
full  of  compassion,  the  women  knelt  in  the  snow  upon 
the  pavement,  to  plead  for  the  divine  influence  upon 
the  heart  of  the  liquor-dealer,  and  there  held  their  first 
street  prayer-meeting. 

At  night  the  weary  but  zealous  workers  reported 
at  a mass-meeting  of  the  various  rebuffs,  and  the  suc- 
cess in  having  two  druggists  sign  the  pledge  not  to 
sell,  except  upon  the  written  prescription  of  a physician. 

The  Sabbath  was  devoted  to  union  mass-meeting, 
with  direct  reference  to  the  work  in  hand;  and  on 
Monday  the  number  of  ladies  had  increased  to  near 
one  hundred.  That  day,  December  29th,  is  one  long 
to  be  remembered  In  Washington,  as  the  day  upon 
which  occurred  the  first  surrender  ever  made  by  a 
liquor-dealer,  of  his  stock  of  liquors  of  every  kind  and 
variety,  to  the  women,  in  answer  to  their  prayers  and 


ALL  THE  SALOONS  CLOSED. 


53 


entreaties,  and  by  them  poured  into  the  street.  Nearly 
a thousand  men,  women,  and  children  witnessed  the 
mingling  of  beer,  ale,  wine,  and  whiskey,  as  they  filled 
the  gutters  and  were  drank  up  by  the  earth,  while  the 
bells  were  ringing,  men  and  boys  shouting,  and  women 
singing  and  praying  to  God  who  had  given  the  victory. 
But  on  the  fourth  day,  “stock  sale-day,”  the  campaign 
had  reached  its  height,  the  town  being  filled  with  visi- 
tors from  all  parts  of  the  county  and  adjoining  villages. 
Another  public  surrender,  and  another  pouring  into 
the  street  of  a larger  stock  of  liquors  than  on  the  pre- 
vious day,  and  more  intense  excitement  and  enthusiasm. 

Mass-meetings  were  held  nightly,  with  new  victories 
reported  constantly,  until  on  Friday,  January  2d,  one 
week  from  the  beginning  of  the  work,  at  the  public 
meeting  held  in  the  evening,  the  secretary’s  report  an- 
nounced the  unconditional  surrender  of  every  liquor- 
dealer,  some  having  shipped  their  liquors  back  to  whole- 
sale dealers,  others  having  poured  them  into  the  gut- 
ters, and  the  druggists  as  all  having  signed  the  pledge. 
Thus  a campaign  of  prayer  and  song,  had.  In  eight 
days,  closed  eleven  saloons,  and  pledged  three  drug 
stores  to  sell  only  on  prescription.  At  first  men  had 
wondered,  scoffed,  and  laughed,  then  criticised,  re- 
spected and  yielded. 

Morning  prayer  and  evening  mass-meetings  con- 
tinued daily,  and  the  personal  pledge  was  circulated 
till  over  one  thousand  signatures  were  obtained.  Phy- 
sicians were  called  upon  to  sign  a pledge  not  to  pre- 
scribe ardent  spirits  when  any  other  substitute  could 
be  found,  and  in  no  case  without  a personal  examina- 
tion of  the  patient. 


54  an  A'lTEMPT  TO  BREAK  DOWN  THE  MOVEMENT. 

Early  in  the  third  week  the  discouraging  intelligence 
came  that  a new  man  had  taken  out  license  to  sell 
liquor  in  one  of  the  deserted  saloons,  and  that  he  was 
backed  by  a whiskey  house  in  Cincinnati,  to  the 
amount  of  ^5,000,  to  break  down  this  movement.  On 
Wednesday,  the  14th,  the  whiskey  was  unloaded  at  his 
room.  About  forty  women  were  on  the  ground  and 
followed  the  liquor  in,  and  remained  holding  an  unin- 
terrupted prayer-meeting  all  day  and  until  eleven 
o’clock  at  night.  The  next  day,  bitterly  cold,  was 
spent  in  the  same  place  and  manner,  without  fire  or 
chairs,  two  hours  of  that  time  the  women  being  locked 
in,,  while  the  proprietor  was  off"  attending  a trial.  On 
the  following  day,  the  coldest  of  all  the  winter  of  1874, 
the  women  were  locked  out,  and  stood  on  the  street 
holding  religious  services  all  day  long. 

Next  morning  a tabernacle  was  built  in  the  street, 
just  in  front  of  the  house,  and  was  occupied  for  the 
double  purpose  of  watcJiing  and  prayer  through  the 
day ; but  before  night  the  sheriff  closed  the  saloon, 
and  the  proprietor  surrendered ; thus  ended  the  third 
week. 

A short  time  after,  on  a dying  bed,  this  four  days’ 
liquor-dealer  sent  for  some  of  these  women,  telling 
tliem  their  songs  and  prayers  had  never  ceased  to  ring 
in  his  ears,  and  urging  them  to  pray  again  in  his  behalf; 
so  he  passed  away. 

Early  in  the  work  Mrs.  George  Carpenter,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Hirst,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Pine 
and  Mrs.  Ogle,  who  were  appointed  to  draw  up  an  appeal,  presented  the  fol- 
lowing. 

APPEAL. 

Knowing,  as  you  do,  the  fearful  effects  of  intoxicating  drinks,  we,  the  women 
of  Washington,  after  earnest  prayer  and  deliberation,  have  decided  to.  appeal  to 


VISIT  TO  HILLSBOROUGH. 


55 


you  to  desist  from  this  ruinous  traffic,  that  our  husbands,  brothers,  and  especially 
our  sons,  be  no  longer  exposed  to  this  terrible  temptation,  and  that  we  may  no 
longer  see  them  led  into  those  paths  which  go  down  to  sin,  and  bring  both  body 
and  soul  to  destruc-tion.  We  appeal  to  the  better  instincts  of  your  own  hearts,  in 
the  name  of  desolated  homes,  blasted  hopes,  ruined  lives,  widowed  hearts,  for 
the  honor  of  our  community,  for  our  happiness  ; for  our  good  name,  as  a town  ; 
in  the  name  of  the  God  who  will  judge  you,  as  well  as  ourselves;  for  the  sake 
of  your  own  souls,  which  are  to  be  saved  or  lost,  we  beg,  we  implore  you,  to 
cleanse  yourselves  from  this  heinous  sin,  and  place  yourselves  in  the  ranks  of 
those  who  are  striving  to  elevate  and  ennoble  themselves  and  their  fellow-men ; 
and  to  this  we  ask  you  to  pledge  yourselves 

This  appeal  was  adopted,  and  was  afterwards  extensively  used  in  other  parts  of 
the  State,  and  in  other  States. 

A property-holders’  pledge  was  also  circulated — pledging  men  not  to  rent,  or 
lease  property,  to  be  used  as  saloons,  nor  to  allow  any  dealings  of  the  liquor 
traffic  to  be  carried  on  upon  any  premises  belonging  to  them.  This  pledge  was 
generally  signed  by  holders  of  real  estate. 

During  this  week  came  a plea  for  help  from  Hillsborough.  In  answer  to  that 
call,  on  Monday,  fanuary  I2th,  a committee,  consisting  of  Profs.  Morehouse  and 
Dean,  and  Mrs.  M.  G.  Carpenter,  Mrs.  Judge  McLean,  Mrs.  Judge  Priddy,  and 
Miss  Annie  Ustick,  went  to  Hillsborough,  spent  the  evening  in  attendance  upon  a 
mass-meeting  there,  and  next  forenoon  in  prayer  and  conference  with  the  workers, 
returning  in  time  to  attend  the  mass-meeting  at  home,  bringing  with  them  en- 
couraging words. 

By  this  time  the  new  method  of  fighting  whiskey  began  to  attract  Ihe  attention 
of  the  press  and  people  in  surrounding  places;  and  meetings  were  announced 
to  be  held  in  every  village  and  school  district  in'  the  county.  Committees  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen  were  sent  out  to  assist  in  these  meetings.  Committees 
were  also  sent,  by  request,  into  all  adjoining  counties,  the  meetings  being  con- 
stantly kept  up  at  home,  and  all  the  while  gaining  in  interest. 

About  this  time  came  word  from  Columbus,  that  the  Adair  Liquor  Law  was 
in  great  danger  of  being  repealed;  consequently  the  following  communication 
was  sent  to  every  known  Temperance  organization  throughout  the  State,  by  the 
Washington  League  ; 

“ To  the  Secretary  of  Women's  Te7nperance  League,  at .■ 

“ Dear  Sister — By  order  of  the  entire  body  of  our  Temperance  League,  we 
send  you  an  urgent  request  that  you  immediately  appoint  a committee  of  not  less 
than  six,  of  the  most  earnest  and  effective  workers,  who  shall  be  ready  at  an 
hour’s  notice,  to  respond  to  the  call  embodied  in  the  following  resolution  : 

“ ‘Resolved,  That  the  secretary  of  this  meeting  be  requested  to  correspond  with 
the  ladies  in  all  places  where  the  Temperance  movement  is  now,  or  may  be  pro- 
gressing, asking  the  same  to  appoint. a delegation  to  appear  at  Columbus,  when 
called,  if  any  action  of  the  legislature,  threatening  the  safety  of  the  Adair  Liquor 
Law,  may  be  contemplated.’ 


56 


A FURIOUS  DUTCHMAN. 


“ Please  notify  us  of  your  decision  in  the  matter,  forwarding  us  one  name  to 
whom  we  may  telegraph  if  necessary.” — [Signed  by  the  secretary.] 

Responses  poured  in  from  all  Leagues  addressed — the  word  '■'■Ready."  But 
the  law  remained  undisturbed  that  winter. 

The  names  of  the  following  women,  chosen  by  God  and  men  to  inaugurate  this 
great  work  and  carry  it  forward  to  success,  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the 
Fayette  County  Herald  at  the  time: 

Mrs.  George  Carpenter;  Miss  Annie  Ustick  ; Mrs.  A.  C.  Hirst;  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Pine;  Mrs.  B.  Ogle ; Mrs.  P.  E.  Morehouse;  Miss  M.  A.  Love;  Mrs.  Wni. 
Stevens;  Mrs.  O.  Grubbs;  Mrs.  J.  Van  Deman;  Mrs.  E.  Milliken;  Mrs.  A. 
Blakemore  ; Mrs.  \Vm.  Smith;  Mrs.  P.  T.  Light;  Mrs.  H.  L.  Hadley;  Mrs. 
F.  Nitterhouse ; Mrs.  D.  McLean;  Mrs.  Allen  Hegler ; Mrs.  T.  N.  Ustick; 
Miss  A.  E.  Robinson  ; Miss  Julia  Wood  ; Miss  Anna  Cherry;  Mrs.  S.  Lydy  ; 
Miss  Brightie  Ogle ; Miss  Flora  Ogle  ; Mrs.  Barnett;  Mrs.  Farmer;  Mrs.  Geo. 
Dahl;  Mrs.  M.  Gardner;  Miss  Kate  Foster;  Mrs.  Col.  Maynard;  Mrs.  Dr. 
Dennis;  Mrs.  Dr.  Coffman;  Miss  Belle  Stuckey  ; Mrs.  H.  P.  Cherry;  Mrs.  J.  B. 
Priddy ; Mrs.  M.  Blackmore ; Mrs.  A.  E.  Silcott ; Miss  L.  Milliken;  Miss 
Emma  Wilcox;  Mrs.  H.  P.  Ustick;  Miss  Ida  Dean;  Mrs.  J.  Hopkins;  Mrs.  C. 
L.  Getz;  Mrs.  T.  Gardner;  Mrs.  Wm.  Gordon;  Miss  A.  Kephart. 

But  there  still  remained  the  beer  hall  of  Charlie 
Beck,  about  half  a mile  out.  Carriages  were  furnished 
the  ladies,  free  of  charge,  from  the  temperance  livery- 
stable  of  Collins  & Bitzer,  and  in  these  the  band  made 
daily  visits  to  Beck’s. 

At  this  time  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  sent  a repor- 
ter to  view  the  land,  from  whose  graphic  pen  we  quote 
the  following; 

c:> 

“I  reached  Washington  at  noon  of  January  20th, 
and  seeking  Mr.  Beck’s  beer  garden,  found  him  in  a 
state  of  terrible  nervousness,  as  the  ladies  had  spent 
the  forenoon  in  front  of  this  place.  He  evidently 
regarded  me  as  a spy,  but  was  much  mollified  when 
assured  that  I was  only  a journalist,  and  made  volumi- 
nous complaint  in  ‘high  Dutch  ’ and  ‘ low  English.’ 

“ ‘ I got  no  vitnesses.  Dem  vimens  dey  set  up  a shob 
on  me.  But  you  don’t  bin  a ’bitual  drunkard,  eh  ? 
No,  you  don’t  look  like  him.  Veil,  coom  in,  coom  in. 
Vat  you  vant,  beer  or  vine  ? I dells  you,  dem  vimens 


THE  LADIES  HOLD  THE  GROUND. 


57 


is  shust  awful.  By  shinks,  dey  build  a house  right  in 
the  shreet,  and  stay  mit  a man  all  day  a singin’  and 
oder  foolishness.  But  dey  don’t  get  in  here  once  agin 
already.’ 

“ In  obedience  to  this  invitation,  I had  entered  by 
the  side  door — the  front  was  locked  and  barred — to 
find  four  customers  indulging  in  liquor,  beer  and  pigs’ 
feet. 

“Mr.  Beck  kept  open  house  nearly  all  that  night; 
the  sounds  of  revelry  were  plainly  heard  in  town,  and 
in  the  morning  several  drunken  men  came  into  town, 
one  of  whom  tumbled  down  into  a livery-stable,  and 
went  to  sleep  on  a manure  pile,  from  which  he  was 
carried  to  the  lock-up.  Matters  were  evidently  coming 
to  a crisis,  and  I went  out  early ; but  the  ladies  reached 
there  in  force  just  before  me.  I met  Mr.  Beck  hurrying 
into  town  to  consult  his  lawyer,  or,  as  he  phrased  it, 
‘ to  see  mein  gounsel  ven  I no  got  a right  to  my  own 
broberty.’ 

“ The  main  body  of  the  ladies  soon  arrived,  and  took 
up  a position  with  right  centre  on  the  doorstep,  the 
wings  extending  each  way  beyond  the  corners  of  the 
house,  and  a rearward  column  along  the  walk  to  the 
gate.  In  ludicrous  contrast  the  routed  revellers,  who 
had  been  scared  out  of  the  saloon,  stood  in  a little 
knot  fifty  feet  away,  still  gnawing  at  the  pigs’  feet 
they  had  held  on  to  in  their  hurried  flight,  while  I 
took  a convenient  seat  on  the  fence.  The  ladies  then 
sang — 

“‘Oh,  do  not  be  discouraged,  for  Jesus  is  your  friend  ; 

He  will  give  you  grace  to  conquer,  and  keep  you  to  the  end.’ 


58 


A STRANGE  SCENE. 


“As  the  twenty  or  more  clear,  sweet  voices  mingled 
in  the  enliveninor  chorus — 

O 

‘ I’m  glad  I’m  in  this  army,’  etc. — 

the  effect  was  inspiring.  I felt  all  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  occasion,  while  pigs’  feet  party,  if  they  did  not  feel 
guilty,  certainly  looked  so. 

“The  singing  was  followed  by  a prayer  from  Mrs. 
Mills  Gardner.  She  prayed  for  the  blessing  of  God 
on  the  temperance  cause  generally,  and  in  this  place 
particularly ; then  for  Mr.  Beck,  his  family  and  friends, 
his  house,  and  all  that  loved  him,  and  closed  with  an 
eloquent  plea  for  guidance  in  the  difficult  and  delicate 
task  they  had  undertaken.  In  one  respect  the  prayer 
was  unsurpassed ; it  was  eminently  fitting  to  the  place 
and  the  occasion.  As  the  concludingr  sentences  were 
beinof  uttered,  Mr.  Beck  and  his  ‘gfounsel’  arrived. 

O'  o 

The  ladies  paid  no  attention  to  either,  but  broke  forth 
in  loud  strains, 

‘ Must  Jesus  bear  the  cross  alone? 

No,  there’s  a cross  for  me,’ 

when  the  lawyer  borrowed  some  of  my  paper,  whis- 
pering at  the  same  time,  ‘ I must  take  down  their  names. 
Gu  ess  I shall  have  to  prosecute  some  of  them  before 
we  stop  this  thing,’ 

“ I should  need  the  pen  of  an  Irtfing  and  pencil  of 
a Darley  to  give  any  adequate  idea  of  the  scene.  On 
one  side,  a score  of  elegant  ladies,  singing  with  all  the 
earnestness  of  impassioned  natures  ; a few  )'ards  away 
a knot  of  disturbed  revellers,  uncertain  whether  to 


FACING  THE  DEALER  AND  HIS  LAWYER. 


59 


stand  or  fly ; half  way  between,  the  nervous  Beck, 
bobbing  around  like  a case  of  fiddle-strings  with  a 
hundred  pounds  of  lager  beer  fat  hung  on  them ; and 
on  the  fence  by  the  ladies,  a cold-blooded  lawyer  and 
excited  reporter  scribbling  away  as  if  their  lives  de- 
pended on  it.  It  w'as  painful  from  its  very  intensity. 

“The  song  ended,  the  presiding  lady  called  upon 
Mrs.  Wendels,  and  again  arose  the  voice  of  prayer — 
so  clear,  so  sweet,  so  full  of  pleading  tenderness,  that 
it  seemed  she  would,  by  strength  of  womanly  love, 
compel  the  very  heavens  to  open  and  send  down  in 
answer  a spark  of  divine  grace  that  would  turn  the 
saloon-keeper  from  his  purpose.  The  sky,  which  had 
been  overcast  all  the  morning,  began  to  clear,  the 
occasional  drops  of  rain  ceased  to  fall,  and  a gentle 
south  wind  made  the  air  soft  and  balmy.  It  almost 
seemed  that  nature  joined  in  the  prayer. 

“Again  the  ladies  sang — 

‘Are  there  no  foes  for  me  to  face,’ 
with  the  camp-meeting  chorus, 

‘ Oh,  how  I love  Jesus, 

Because  he  first  loved  me.’ 

“As  the  song  concluded,  the  lawyer  suddenly  stepped 
forward,  and  said: 

‘“Now,  ladies,  I have  a word  to  say  before  this  per- 
formance goes  any  further.  Mr.  Beck  has  employed 
me  as  his  attorney.  He  cannot  speak  good  English, 
and  I speak  for  him  here.  He  is  engaged  in  a legiti- 
mate business,  and  you  are  trespassers  on  his  property 


6o 


ANSWERING  IN  SONG. 


and  rights.  If  this  thing  is  carried  any  further,  you  will 
be  called  to  account  in  the  court,  and  I can  assure  you 
the  court  will  sustain  the  man.  He  has  talked  with 
you  all  he  desires  to.  He  does  not  want  to  put  you 
out  forcibly ; that  would  be  unmanly,  and  he  does  not 
wish  to  act  rudely.  But  he  tells  you  to  go.  As  his 
attorney,  I now  warn  you  to  desist  from  any  further 
annoyance.’ 

“Au'ain  the  ladies  sanof — 

‘ My  soul,  be  on  thy  guard, 

Ten  thousand  foes  arise.’ 

And  Miss  Annie  Ustick  followed  with  a fervent  prayer 
for  the  lawyer  and  his  client;  but  they  had  fled  the 
scene,  leaving  the  house  locked  up.  After  consulta- 
tion, the  ladies  decided  to  leave  Mr.  Beck’s  premises 
and  take  a position  on  the  adjoining  lot.  They  sent 
for  the  ‘ tabernacle,’  a rude  frame  building  they  had 
used  in  front  of  Slater’s  saloon.  This  they  erected  on 
the  adjoining  lot,  put  up  immense  lights  to  illuminate 
the  entrance  to  the  beer  garden,  and  kept  up  a guard 
from  early  morning  till  midnight. 

“ For  two  weeks  relisfious  services  were  held  in  the 
tabernacle  day  and  night,  and  the  women  were  con- 
stantly on  duty  ; at  the  end  of  which  time  an  injunction 
was  orranted  Mr.  Beck  and  the  tabernacle  was  taken 

o 

down. 

“Temperance  was  still  the  pulpit  theme  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  on  Monday  morning,  February  9th,  all  the 
business  houses  were  closed  from  8 to  9 to  attend 
the  business  men’s  prayer-meeting.  Large  delegations 


SURRENDER  OF  EVERY  SALOON. 


6l 


were  present  from  adjoining  villages  at  that  early 
hour.  At  the  meetincf  there  came  a messenger  from 
this  man  stating  that  he  would  , give  up  his  business, 
which  announcement  was  received  with  cheers.  It 
was  then  decided  that  all  who  were  not  enjoined  from 
so  doing-  should  march  out  to  Mr.  Beck’s  beer  garden, 
where  the  proprietor  met  them  at  the  gate,  and  after  a 
brief  consultation  with  a committee  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  he  publicly  announced  : ‘ You  comes  so  many, 
I quits.  I will  never  sell  any  more  beer  or  whiskey.’ 
Again  the  crowd  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  cheers. 
Messengers  were  despatched  to  the  women  who  re- 
mained praying  in  the  church,  to  join  them.  All  the 
bells  commenced  ringing,  and  the  procession,  number- 
ing two  hundred  strong,  started  out  to  Sullivan’s  beer 
house,  now  the  only  remaining  saloon  in  the  township. 
Marching  up  Court  street,  the  numbers  increased,  and 
amid  the  most  profound  silence  the  men  and  women  pur- 
sued their  journey.  About  half  way  there  the  man  in 
question  was  met  and  interviewed.  He  asked  two  days 
to  consider,  which  were  granted.  The  procession  then 
returned,  the  bells  all  the  time  ringing  out  their  chimes 
upon  the  crisp  morning  air.  Meetings,  morning  and 
evening,  continued  with  unabated  interest,  and  at  each 
came  to  us  the  cry  from  other  points,  ‘ Come  and 
help  us.’ 

“On  Wednesday  morning,  February  nth,  at  mass- 
meeting in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Mr.  Sullivan  came 
in  and  publicly  pledged  himself  to  ‘q'^'t  forever  the 
liquor  business.’  A general  rejoicing  and  thanksgiv- 
ing followed  this  surrender  of  the  ‘ last  man.’ 


62 


ORGANIZED  WORK, 


“Thus,  through  most  of  the  winter  of  1874  no  alco- 
holic drinks  were  publicly  sold  as  a beverage  in  the 
county. 

“The  summer  was  given  up  to  the  defeat  of  the 
license  clause  in  the  new  constitution  which  was  to 
come  before  the  people  on  the  i8th  of  August. 

“ Mass  temperance  picnics  were  a prominent  feature 
of  the  season,  and  the  untiring  zeal  of  the  workers  was 
crowned  with  success  on  election  day. 

“ During  the  two  intervening  years  weekly  temper- 
ance league  meetings  have  been  kept  up  by  the  faithful 
few,  while  frequent  union  mass-meetings  have  been 
held,  thus  keeping  the  subject  always  before  the  people. 

“To-day  the  disgraceful  and  humiliating  fact  exists 
that  there  are  more  places  where  liquors  are  sold  than 
before  the  Crusade.  Does  any  one  ask  the  result  of 
all  this  labor,  and  if  the  movement  was  a failure?  We 
answer  to  the  first  question  of  results : The  idea  that 
women  are  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  great  conflict 
between  religion  and  the  rum  power,  was  evolved  by 
this  very  Crusade.  None  saw  quicker  than  the  women 
themselves  the  weak  and  strong  points  of  the  move- 
ment, and  these  praying  bands  have  become  thoroughly 
organized  Womens  Christian  Temperance  Unions; 
and  reform  clubs,  reading  rooms,  coffee  houses,  and 
friendly  inns  are  the  outgrowth  of  these  ‘unions.’ 
Other  countries  have  felt  the  impulse,  and  the  best 
women  of  Europe  and  Canada  are  being  organized  into 
‘leao-ues’  and  ‘unions.’ 

O 

“Was  this  movement,  then,  a failure?  No!  No! 
The  long  list  of  reformed  lives  ; the  restored  happiness 


WINE  BANISHED  FROM  STATE  DINNERS.  63 

and  prosperity  of  once  desolated  homes ; the  still 
longer  list  of  our  noble  young  men,  who  were  arrested 
in  their  first  downward  steps  in  the  path  of  intemper- 
ance and  ruin,  and  whose  upright  and  useful  lives  will 
be  standing  monuments  of  good  for  years  to  come. 
Who  dares  to  compute  such  results?  The  improved 
public  sentiment,  banishing  the  wine  cup  from  the 
social  circle,  from  the  sideboards  and  cellars  of  re- 
spectable homes — the  awakening  and  uniting  of  all 
Christian  hearts  in  one  grand  work  for  God  and 
humanity.  All  these  are  the  outgrowth  of  a reforma- 
tion which  has  since  belted  the  world — the  most  far- 
seeing  being  utterly  unable  to  grasp  its  results. 

“An  incident  recently  under  the  observation  of  the 
writer  is  in  point.  During  the  winter  of  1876  a grand 
banquet  was  given  the  Ohio  General  Assembly,  judi- 
ciary, and  military  officers  by  some  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  our  capital  city.  No  labor  or  expense  was 
spared  in  ministering  to  the  comforter  pleasure  of  the 
guests,  yet  no  wine  was  to  be  found  in  all  that  banquet 
hall.  One  of  the  hosts  of  the  evening  remarked  that 
‘before  the  “Women’s  Crusade”  the  giving  of  such  an 
entertainment  without  wine  would  have  been  impos- 
sible.’ 

“A  failure?  No!  Eternity  alone  will  unfold  the 
glorious  success  of  that  work.  To  have  banished 
liquor  from  the  land,  as  at  first  the  movement  seemed 
to  promise,  would  have  been  a miracle,  and  God  does 
not  now  work  in  such  manner ; and  the  work  we  feel 
he  meant  to  do  in  this  Crusade  was  to  rouse  up  his 
people  to  a sense  of  their  duty;  to  awaken  his^  church. 


64 


THE  WORK  IN  WILMINGTON. 


which  seemed  to  be  strangely  indifferent  and  asleep  to 
this  terrible  evil.  Thus  He  crowned  the  movement 
with  success  ; and  while  His  followers  believe  and  trust 
Him,  the  good  work  will  go  on  to  completion,  for 

“ ‘ Right  is  right,  as  God  is  God, 

And  right  the  day  will  win  3 
To  doubt  would  be  disloyalty, 

To  falter  would  be  sin.’  ” 

WILMINGTON,  OHIO. 

We  are  indebted  to  Rhoda  Worthington  and  Mary 
Hadley  for  the  following  history  of  the  work  in  Wil- 
mington : 

In  pursuance  to  the  call  of  the  pastors  of  the  differ- 
ent churches  of  Wilmington,  a large  and  earnest  as- 
semblage of  citizens  gathered  at  the  M.  E.  Church,  on 
Saturday  evening,  January  3d,  to  devise  some  plan  of 
procedure,  by  which  all  lovers  of  the  race  might  be 
brought  to  work  in  harmony  for  the  suppression  of 
the  sale  of  intoxicatinor  drinks  within  the  limits  of  the 

o 

corporation  of  Wilmington. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Runyan,  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  After  the 
singing  of  the  hymn,  “All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’ 
name,’’  the  audience  were  led  in  prayer  by  the  Rev.  S. 
H.  Bingman,  pastor  of  the  Christian  Church.  The 
meeting  was  then  addressed  in  a stirrinor  and  thrillino- 

o 00 

appeal  in  behalf  of  the  movement,  by  the  Rev.  A.  C. 
Hirst,  of  Washington  C.  H.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Hirst,  in  the 
course  of  his  remarks,  set  forth  the  main  features  of 
the  plan  pursued  by  the  people  of  Washington,  but 


woman’s  meeting. 


65 


thought  that,  if  the  people  of  Wilmington  would  take 
hold  of  the  matter  with  the  one  object  in  view,  viz.,  to 
suppress  the  liquor  traffic  in  our  midst,  some  plan 
suited  to  the  local  requirements  of  the  case  would 
develop  itself.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Hirst’s  address, 
remarks  on  the  duties  of  the  hour  were  made  by  W. 
E.  Prichard  and  others.  A temporary  organization 
was  then  effected.  Mr.  William  H.  Cole,  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  J. 
H.  Grove  was  nominated  as  secretary. 

A committee  of  five,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Hilde- 
brant,  Zeigler,  Albright,  Gaskill,  and  Outcalt,  was  ap- 
pointed to  secure  the  names  of  such  men  as  were 
willing  to  pledge  themselves  to  support  the  ladies  in 
efforts  to  suppress  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks 
within  the  limits  of  Wilmino-ton. 

O 

On  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  Mary  N.  Hadley,  a min- 
ister in  the  Society  of  Friends,  it  was  moved,  that  all 
women  interested  in  the  cause  of  temperance  be  re- 
quested to  meet  in  the  Friends’  Church,  Sunday,  Jan- 
uary 4th,  at  four  o’clock  p.  m.,  and  that  all  men  willing 
to  aid  the  ladies  in  this  movement  be  requested  to  meet 
in  the  Baptist  Church,  at  the  same  hour,  for  prayer 
and  consultation. 

At  the  women’s  meetincr  at  four  o’clock.  Sabbath 
evening,  there  was  a good  attendance.  Rhoda  C. 
Worthington  was  called  to  act  as  president  of  the  meet- 
ing. She  came  forward  and  said,  ‘As  the  children  of 
Israel  did  not  see  the  Red  Sea  open  before  they  came 
to  it,  nor  the  prophets  see  the  waters  of  Jordan  roll 
back  until  the  soles  of  their  feet  touched  the  brim  of  the 


5 


68 


GOING  THROUGH  SLEET  AND  SNOW. 


the  report  of  the  work  done  by  the  women  during  the 
day  was  read  by  Sarah  S.  Walker,  and  was  listened  to 
with  breathless  attention. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  occupied  in  the 
transaction  of  business,  speaking,  singing,  and  prayer, 
and  securing  signatures  to  the  total  abstinence  pledge. 
Some  of  these  meetings  were  the  most  remarkable 
ever  held  in  Wilmington,  and  their  influence  cannot  be 
computed  or  gainsaid. 

On  other  days  the  same  procession  of  earnest,  de- 
voted women  filed  out  of  the  church  amid  the  rinmnor 

o o 

of  bells,  and  the  supplication  and  prayers  of  their 
fathers,  husbands,  and  brothers,  through  snow  and 
sleet;  and  when  the  procession  returned  to. the  church 
there  was  awaiting  them  a large  meeting  of  men,  to 
give  them  a prayerful  reception. 

The  rain,  sleet,  and  snow  in  an  unusual  degree  kept 
on  fallinm  but  the  meeting  at  the  Friends’  meetinor- 

O'  o o 

house  showed  the  indomitable  purpose  of  the  good 
people  who  were  engaged  in  this  work.  At  one  of  the 
many  meetings  the  following  appeal,  having  been  pre- 
pared by  the  women  engaged  in  the  work  of  visitation, 
was  read  and  adopted  : 

“Sisters — Feeling  greatly  encouraged  at  the  results 
of  yesterday’s  work,  and  thanking  God  our  Father, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  Christ,  our  crucified 
but  risen  and  glorified  Redeemer,  and  feeling  that, 
from  the  character  of  the  men  engaged  in  the  liquor 
traffic,  the  amount  of  capital  and  financial  interest  em- 
ployed in  the  same,  and  the  silent  yet  powerful  influ- 
ence of  many  members  of  our  community  in  backing 


woman’s  meeting. 


65 


thought  that,  if  the  people  of  Wilmington  would  take 
hold  of  the  matter  with  the  one  object  in  view,  viz,,  to 
suppress  the  liquor  traffic  in  our  midst,  some  plan 
suited  to  the  local  requirements  of  the  case  would 
develop  itself.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Hirst’s  address, 
remarks  on  the  duties  of  the  hour  were  made  by  W. 
E.  Prichard  and  others.  A temporary  organization 
was  then  effected.  Mr.  William  H.  Cole,  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  J. 
H.  Grove  was  nominated  as  secretary. 

A committee  of  five,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Hilde- 
brant,  Zeigler,  Albright,  Gaskill,  and  Outcalt,  was  ap- 
pointed to  secure  the  names  of  such  men  as  were 
willing  to  pledge  themselves  to  support  the  ladies  in 
efforts  to  suppress  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks 
within  the  limits  of  Wilming-ton. 

On  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  Mary  N,  Hadley,  a min- 
ister in  the  Society  of  Friends,  it  was  moved,  that  all 
women  interested  in  the  cause  of  temperance  be  re- 
quested to  meet  in  the  Friends’  Church,  Sunday,  Jan- 
uary 4th,  at  four  o’clock  p.  m.,  and  that  all  men  willing 
to  aid  the  ladies  in  this  movement  be  requested  to  meet 
in  the  Baptist  Church,  at  the  same  hour,  for  prayer 
and  consultation. 

At  the  women’s  meetinor  at  four  o’clock,  Sabbath 

o 

evening,  there  was  a good  attendance.  Rhoda.  C. 
Worthington  was  called  to  act  as  president  of  the  meet- 
ing. She  came  forward  and  said,  ‘As  the  children  of 
Israel  did  not  see  the  Red  Sea  open  before  they  came 
to  it,  nor  the  prophets  see  the  waters  of  Jordan  roll 
back  until  the  soles  of  their  feet  touched  the  brim  of  the 
S 


68 


GOING  THROUGH  SLEET  AND  SNOW. 


the  report  of  the  work  done  by  the  women  during  the 
day  was  read  by  Sarah  S.  Walker,  and  was  listened  to 
with  breathless  attention. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  occupied  in  the 
transaction  of  business,  speaking,  singing,  and  prayer, 
and  securing  signatures  to  the  total  abstinence  pledge. 
Some  of  these  meetings  were  the  most  remarkable 

o 

ever  held  in  Wilmington,  and  their  influence  cannot  be 
computed  or  gainsaid. 

On  other  days  the  same  procession  of  earnest,  de- 
voted women  filed  out  of  the  church  amid  the  ring-ingf 
of  bells,  and  the  supplication  and  prayers  of  their 
fathers,  husbands,  and  brothers,  through  snow  and 
sleet;  and  when  the  procession  returned  to  the  church 
there  was  awaiting  them  a large  meeting  of  men,  to 
give  them  a prayerful  reception. 

The  rain,  sleet,  and  snow  in  an  unusual  degree  kept 
on  falling,  but  the  meeting  at  the  Friends’  meeting- 
house showed  the  indomitable  purpose  of  the  good 
people  who  were  engaged  in  this  work.  At  one  of  the 
many  meetings  the  following  appeal,  having  been  pre- 
pared by  the  women  engaged  in  the  work  of  visitation, 
was  read  and  adopted : 

“Sisters — Feeling  greatly  encouraged  at  the  results 
of  yesterday’s  work,  and  thanking  God  our  Father, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  Christ,  our  crucified 
but  risen  and  glorified  Redeemer,  and  feeling  that, 
from  the  character  of  the  men  engaged  in  the  liquor 
traffic,  the  amount  of  capital  and  financial  interest  em- 
ployed in  the  same,  and  the  silent  yet  powerful  influ- 
ence of  many  members  of  our  community  in  backing 


THE  FIRST  SURRENDER. 


69 


up  these  men  in  their  unholy  calling,  that  we  may  have 
a long  siege — therefore,  let  us  call  upon  all  our  Chris- 
tian brothers  and  sisters  in  the  country  surrounding 
Wilmington,  to  at  once  earnestly  identify  themselves 
with  this  great  Christian  temperance  movemeiit,  by  or- 
ganizing, and  placing  themselves  in  communication 
with  us,  and  thus  be  ready  to  help  us  in  carrying  for- 
ward the  work.” 

The  Crusaders,  as  they  went  out  on  their  mission  of 
love,  were  urged  forward  by  the  prayers  and  tears  of 
the  active  Christian  community,  and  aided  by  the  moral 
sentiment  of  very  many  who  made  no  pretensions  of 
religion.  The  unity  of  effort,  fixedness  of  purpose, 
and  hearty  support  given  to  the  work  procured  entire 
success. 

As  the  women  were  engaged  all  day  in  their  work, 
arrangements  were  made  for  them  to  have  lunch  every 
day  during  this  protracted  effort. 

Superintendent  William  Cole  and  Sheriff  Hackny 
took  the  lead  in  this  matter.  It  was  announced  each 
night,  at  the  mass-meeting,  where  lunch  would  be 
given,  and  who  would  pay  for  it.  A correspondent 
says : The  saloon-keepers  weakened  in  their  efforts 
to  stem  the  tide  of  public  opinion.  Several  were  ready 
to  sell  out  and  quit  the  business,  but  the  women  were 
not  willing  to  buy.  J.  R.  Hawley,  a colored  saloon- 
keeper, announced  in  the  meeting  that  he  was  re- 
solved to  quit. 

The  ringing  of  all  the  bells  in  the  town  announced 
to  the  people  that  the  lines  were  broken,  and  victory 
was  only  a question  of  time.  The  women  were  vigi- 


72 


A GENERAL  SURRENDER, 


bowls  of  egg-nog  already  mixed  up  for  their  use  were 
still  standing  unmolested.  They  would  see  a company 
of  us  at  one  place  and  think  these  were  the  Crusaders, 
and  they  would  go  on  hurriedly  to  another  shop,  per- 
haps enter  the  door  before  they  perceived  women 
were  there,  too  ; then  some  would  very  unconcernedly 
ask  for  a half-dozen  apples  or  something  else,  and 
pass  out.  Through  the  vigilance  of  the  women  but 
little  liquor  was  sold  during  the  day,  and  at  night 
all  of  the  saloons  were  temporarily  closed,  and  the 
chances  were  much  against  any  open  purchase  of 
liquor.  The  week  had  been  one  of  intense  excitement 
and  active  work,  and  such  an  up-building  of  public 
sentiment  as  had  never  been  manifested  here  before. 

Union  service  was  held  at  the  Friends’  Church  on 
Sabbath  mornincr  and  eveningr.  At  the  morninor  hour 
Rev.  James  Kendall  preached  one  of  his  characteristic 
sermons,  w^hich  was  listened  to  attentively  by  as  large 
an  audience  as  could  be  packed  into  the  house.  The 
evening  service  was  very  good,  made  up  of  singing, 
praying,  and  general  speaking. 

Monday  meetings  were  held  at  the  M.  E.  Church. 
The  attendance  was  prompt  and  the  procession  moved 
early,  and  took  possession  of  the  saloons.  Men  who 
had  been  brave  all  the  week  before,  gave  in  and  sur- 
rendered. Thomas  Norton,  Fred.  Hineman,  George 
Lauber,  Henry  Getz,  Washington  Champ,  and  Patrick 
Egan,  gave  up  the  business,  and  while  they  did  not  all 
sign  the  pledge,  they  all  promised  to  quit,  Norton 
and  Hineman  emptied  their  saloons. 

As  an  episode  of  the  day’s  work,  the  capture  of  the 


f 


THE  FIRST  SURRENDER. 


69 


up  these  men  in  their  unholy  calling,  that  we  may  have 
a long  siege — therefore,  let  us  call  upon  all  our  Chris- 
tian brothers  and  sisters  in  the  country  surrounding 
Wilmington,  to  at  once  earnestly  identify  themselves 
with  this  great  Christian  temperance  movement,  by  or- 
ganizing, and  placing  themselves  in  communication 
with  us,  and  thus  be  ready  to  help  us  in  carrying  for- 
ward the  work.” 

The  Crusaders,  as  they  went  out  on  their  mission  of 
love,  were  urged  forward  by  the  prayers  and  tears  of 
the  active  Christian  community,  and  aided  by  the  moral 
sentiment  of  very  many  who  made  no  pretensions  of 
religion.  The  unity  of  effort,  fixedness  of  purpose, 
and  hearty  support  given  to  the  work  procured  entire 
success. 

As  the  women  were  engaged  all  day  in  their  work, 
arrangements  were  made  for  them  to  have  lunch  every 
day  during  this  protracted  effort. 

Superintendent  William  Cole  and  Sheriff  Hackny 
took  the  lead  in  this  matter.  It  was  announced  each 
night,  at  the  mass-meeting,  where  lunch  would  be 
given,  and  who  would  pay  for  it.  A correspondent 
says : The  saloon-keepers  weakened  in  their  efforts 
to  stem  the  tide  of  public  opinion.  Several  were  ready 
to  sell  out  and  quit  the  business,  but  the’ women  were 
not  willing  to  buy.  J.  R.  Hawley,  a colored  saloon- 
keeper, announced  in  the  meeting  that  he  was  re- 
solved to  quit. 

The  ringing  of  all  the  bells  in  the  town  announced 
to  the  people  that  the  lines  were  broken,  and  victory 
was  only  a question  of  time.  The  women  were  vigi- 


72 


A GENERAL  SURRENDER. 


bowls  of  egg-nog  already  mixed  up  for  their  use  were 
still  standing  unmolested.  They  would  see  a company 
of  us  at  one  place  and  think  these  were  the  Crusaders, 
and  they  would  go  on  hurriedly  to  another  shop,  per- 
haps enter  the  door  before  they  perceived  women 
were  there,  too ; then  some  would  very  unconcernedly 
ask  for  a half-dozen  apples  or  something  else,  and 
pass  out.  Through  the  vigilance  of  the  women  but 
little  liquor  was  sold  during  the  day,  and  at  night 
all  of  the  saloons  were  temporarily  closed,  and  the 
chances  were  much  against  any  open  purchase  of 
liquor.  The  week  had  been  one  of  intense  excitement 
and  active  work,  and  such  an  up-building  of  public 
sentiment  as  had  never  been  manifested  here  before. 

Union  service  was  held  at  the  Friends’  Church  on 
Sabbath  morninsf  and  evening.  At  the  morning  hour 
Rev.  James  Kendall  preached  one  of  his  characteristic 
sermons,  which  was  listened  to  attentively  by  as  large 
an  audience  as  could  be  packed  into  the  house.  The 
evening  service  was  very  good,  made  up  ot  singing, 
praying,  and  general  speaking. 

Monday  meetings  were  held  at  the  M.  E.  Church. 
The  attendance  was  prompt  and  the  procession  moved 
early,  and  took  possession  of  the  saloons.  Men  who 
had  been  brave  all  the  week  before,  gave  in  and  sur- 
rendered. Thomas  Norton,  Fred.  Hineman,  George 
Lauber,  Henry  Getz,  Washington  Champ,  and  Patrick 
Egan,  gave  up  the  business,  and  while  they  did  not  all 
sign  the  pledge,  they  all  promised  to  quit.  Norton 
and  Hineman  emptied  their  saloons. 

As  an  episode  of  the  day’s  work,  the  capture  of  the 


CAPTURE  OF  AN  ALE-WAGON. 


73 


Xenia  ale-wagon  and  the  frightened  driver  will  long 
be  remembered.  He  entered  town  and  was  replenish- 
ing saloons,  while  the  attention  of  all  were  taken  up 
by  the  pouring  out  of  a half-barrel  of  gin,  given  up  for 
that  purpose. 

G.  Thomas  Young  had  signed  the  pledge,  and  his 
liquors  were  poured  into  the  gutter  from  the  court- 
house pavement ; some  poor  fellows  drank  from  the 
gutter,  taking  it  up  with  their  hands ; one  ran  up  and 
caught  some  in  his  hat  and  drank  it,  although  his  hat 
was  not  a new  one.  The  crowd  dispersed:  some  went 
home,  but  most  of  the  temperance  women  and  men 
went  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

When  it  was  announced  that  the  ale-wagon  was  in 
town  and  M.  N.  Hadley  was  beside  it,  it  was  soon 
overtaken  by  a vast  crowd.  A colored  boy  caught  hold 
of  the  horses;  the  wagon  was  soon  surrounded  by  the 
women;  earnest  prayer  was  offered,  and  just  as  we  had 
a pledge  written,  to  present  to  him,  to  sign,  not  to 
enter  our  place  again  on  such  an  errand  by  day  or  by 
night,  the  city  marshal  told  the  boy  to  quit  his  hold  of 
the  bridle,  and  the  driver  lay  whip  to  the  horses  and 
fled.  We  telegraphed  to  Salina,  and  they  were  ready 
to  receive  him  by  the  time  he  arrived  there. 

The  meeting  that  night  was  a joyful  one,  and  the 
work  was  reported  in  a much  more  forward  condition 
than  any  one  could  have  expected.  Thursday  found 
all  ready  for  work,  and  there  being  a suspicion  that 
the  saloon  of  Conners  had  been  open  during  the  night, 
a delegation  met  early  and  was  ready  to  take  posses- 
sion, as  soon  as  it  was  opened  for  business.  The 


76 


TEACHING  THE  CHILDREN. 


tenance  of  our  bodies,  and  care  for  our  comfort  and 
convenience  by  improving  street-crossings,  etc.  And 
again  we  will  thank  him  for  the  silent  breathing  of 
“ God  speed  the  work,”  which  we  felt  was  with  many 
of  our  citizens  and  neighbors  who  had  no  opportunity 
to  manifest  their  interest  and  co-operation  therein,  and 
in  humility  we  desire  to  thank  and  praise  his  holy 
name  for  causing  the  saloon-keepers  with  whom  we 
have  labored,  to  treat  us  with  such  profound  respect  and 
gentility.  And  last,  but  not  least,  we  most  devoutly 
thank  him  that  he  has  enabled  us  to  work  thus  lovingly 
together,  until'  the  language  of  our  hearts  is,  “Truly 
is  it  the  Lord’s  doing,  and  marvellous  in  our  eyes.” 

On  behalf  of  the  women  of  Wilmington  and  vicinity. 

R.  C.  Worthington,  President. 

There  were  many  women  who  attended  our  league- 
meetings  regularly,  who  never  went  on  the  street  as 
Crusaders.  When  we  would  start  out  they  would  go 
home,  or  remain  at  the  prayer-meeting. 

These  were  led  by  ministers : W.  E.  Prichard,  S.  H. 
Bingham,  Wm.  Runyan,  and  Friends. 

A relief  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
both  men  and  women,  which  did  much  to  relieve  the 
poor  of  our  town.  The  children  of  the  public  schools 
were  invited  to  come  out. 

We  taught  them  the  following  pledge: 

A pledge  we  make,  no  Wine  to  take, 

Or  Brandy  red,  to  turn  the  head; 

Or  Whiskey  hot,  to  make  the  sot ; 

Or  fiery  Rum,  that  ruins  home ; 

Nor  will  we  sin,  by  drinking  Gin  ; 

Hard  Cider,  too,  will  never  do; 


CAPTURE  OF  AN  ALE-WAGON. 


73 


Xenia  ale-waofon  and  the  frightened  driver  will  longf 
be  remembered.  He  entered  town  and  was  replenish- 
ing saloons,  while  the  attention  of  all  were  taken  up 
by  the  pouring  out  of  a half-barrel  of  gin,  given  up  for 
that  purpose. 

G.  Thomas  Young  had  signed  the  pledge,  and  his 
liquors  were  poured  into  the  gutter  from  the  court- 
house pavement ; some  poor  fellows  drank  from  the 
gutter,  taking  it  up  with  their  hands ; one  ran  up  and 
caught  some  in  his  hat  and  drank  it,  although  his  hat 
was  not  a new  one.  The  crowd  dispersed:  some  went 
home,  but  most  of  the  temperance  women  and  men 
went  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

When  it  was  announced  that  the  ale-wagon  was  in 
town  and  M.  N.  Hadley  was  beside  It,  it  was  soon 
overtaken  by  a vast  crowd.  A colored  boy  caught  hold 
of  the  horses;  the  wagon  was  soon  surrounded  by  the 
women;  earnest  prayer  was  offered,  and  just  as  we  had 
a pledge  written,  to  present  to  him,  to  sign,  not  to 
enter  our  place  again  on  such  an  errand  by  day  or  by 
night,  the  city  marshal  told  the  boy  to  quit  his  hold  of 
the  bridle,  and  the  driver  lay  whip  to  the  horses  and 
fled.  We  telegraphed  to  Salina,'  and  they  were  ready 
to  receive  him  by  the  time  he  arrived  there. 

The  meeting  that  night  was  a joyful  one,  and  the 
work  was  reported  in  a much  more  forward  condition 
than  any  one  could  have  expected.  Thursday  found 
all  ready  for  work,  and  there  being  a suspicion  that 
the  saloon  of  Conners  had  been  open  during  the  night, 
a delegation  met  early  and  was  ready  to  take  posses- 
sion, as  soon  as  it  was  opened  for  business.  The 


76 


TEACHING  THE  CHILDREN. 


tenance  of  our  bodies,  and  care  for  our  comfort  and 
convenience  by  improving  street-crossings,  etc.  And 
again  we  will  thank  him  for  the  silent  breathing  of 
“ God  speed  the  Avork,”  which  Ave  felt  Avas  Avith  many 
of  our  citizens  and  neighbors  Avho  had  no  opportunity 
to  manifest  their  interest  and  co-operation  therein,  and 
in  humility  Ave  desire  to  thank  and  praise  his  holy 
name  for  causing  the  saloon-keepers  Avith  Avhom  Ave 
have  labored,  to  treat  us  Avith  such  profound  respect  and 
gentility.  And  last,  but  not  least,  Ave  most  devoutly 
thank  him  that  he  has  enabled  us  to  AA'ork  thus  loAungly 
together,  until  the  language  of  our  hearts  is,  “Truly 
is  it  the  Lord’s  doing,  and  marvellous  in  our  eyes.” 

On  behalf  of  the  Avomen  of  Wilmington  and  vicinity. 

R.  C.  Worthington,  President. 

There  Avere  many  Avomen  Avho  attended  our  league- 
meetings  regularly,  Avho  neA^er  Avent  on  the  street  as 
Crusaders.  When  Ave  Avould  start  out  they  Avould  go 
home,  or  remain  at  the  prayer-meeting. 

These  Avere  led  by  ministers:  W.  E.  Prichard,  S.  H. 
Bingham,  Wm.  Runyan,  and  Friends. 

A relief  committee  AA-as  appointed,  consisting  of 
both  men  and  Avomen,  Avhich  did  much  to  relieA^e  the 
poor  of  our  tOAvn.  The  children  of  the  public  schools 
Avere  invited  to  come  out. 

We  taught  them  the  folloAving  pledge : 

A pledge  we  make,  no  Wine  to  take, 

Or  Brandy  red,  to  turn  the  head; 

Or  Whiskey  hot,  to  make  the  sot ; 

Or  fiery  Rum,  that  ruins  home ; 

Nor  will  we  sin,  by  drinking  Gin; 

Hard  Cider,  too,  will  neA'er  do ; 


VISIT  TO  A LIVERY  STABLE. 


77 


Or  brewers’  Beer,  the  heart  to  cheer. 

To  quench  our  thirst,  we’ll  always  bring 
Cold  Water,  from  the  well,  or  spring. 

Also,  from  Tobacco’s  use  we  plead  excuse; 

The  filth  and  scent  thus  we  prevent. 

That  does  accrue  from  Snuff  and  Chew ; 

And  Smoke,  we  abhor,  from  Pipe  or  Cigar. 

To  this  Pledge  we  live,  for  the  joy  it  will  give 
To  Fathers  and  Mothers,  our  neighbors,  and  others. 

Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio. 

Some  of  the  saloons  were  open,  but  claimed  to  be 
selling  cider  only.  One  had  protested  that  he  did  not 
sell  whiskey,  and  tried  hard  to  convince  us  of  the  fact. 
H is  door  opened  into  an  alley.  The  children  stopped 
before  his  front  window,  and  began  repeating  the 
pledge  ; he  raised  the  window,  put  his  head  out,  and 
said,  in  an  impatient  voice,  and  with  an  Irish  brogue, 
“ What  are  ye  all  a doing  here  ? ” The  children  all 
turned  their  sober  little  faces  toward  him,  repeating 
on.  What  he  heard  was  just  the  line, 

“ Or  Whiskey  hot,  to  make  the  sot;  ” 

when  down  went  the  window.  It  was  very  amusing, 
but  none  laughed  at  the  time. 

One  place  we  visited  was  a livery  stable,  where 
many  had  been  seen  drinking  and  drunk.  The 
keeper  was  greatly  incensed  to  think  we  had  stopped 
on  his  pavement — talked  rather  roughly  ; said,  “ If  we 
came  there  just  once  more,  he  would  sell  out,  and 
set  up  in  the  liquor  business,  and  would  show  us  he 
could  sell  If  he  wanted  too.”  This  was  all  the  rough 
language  we  had  spoken  to  us,  except  by  one  drug- 
gist, who  was  so  thrown  off  his  dignity  to  think  we 


8o 


NEW  VIENNA,  OHIO. 


kept  by  John  Calvin  Van  Pelt.  The  building  was  a 
miserable  one-story  frame  structure  near  the  railroad 
depot,  and  Van  Pelt  had  the  reputation  of  being  “ the 
wickedest  man  in  Ohio.”  In  appearance  he  looked 
like  a prize-fighter,  and  in  behavior  he  acted  like  one 
possessed  of  devils. 

The  very  first  visit  of  the  ladies  enraged  Van  Pelt 
beyond  anything  they  had  ever  seen.  In  his  fury,  he 
threatened  that  if  they  came  to  his  saloon  again,  he 
would  “hang,  draw,  and  quarter  them  every  one.” 
And  he  looked  bloodthirsty  enough  to  undertake  any 
murderous  deed. 

But,  fortunately,  these  women  were  imbued  with  a 
heroism  that  comes  from  above,  and  had  a faith  that 
would  not  shrink  in  the  presence  of  bodily  peril.  And 
the  next  day  about  fifty  of  them  marched  down  to  the 
“ Dead  Fall,”  as  though  no  threat  had  ever  been  made 
arainst  them. 

o 

Van  Pelt  had  made  special  preparations  for  them. 
In  one  of  his  show-windows  an  axe  besmeared  with 
blood  was  placed;  in  the  other  an  unusually  fine  dis- 
play of  whiskey-bottles;  over  the  door  jugs  and  bot- 
tles were  hung,  and  a black  flag  conspicuously  sur- 
mounted all;  while  within  doors.  Van  Pelt  could  be 
seen  walkinq-  the  floor  and  flourishing  a club  at  invisi- 
ble  foes.  Now  this  was  all  very  consistent — whiskey, 
a rowdy  to  serve  it ; the  black  flag  and  the  axe,  the 
symbols  of  the  trade. 

The  sight  of  the  flag  and  the  axe,  nor  even  the 
hostile  demonstrations  of  Van  Pelt,  deterred  the  wo- 
men ; they  moved  right  on  without  halting,  or  a quiver 


VISIT  TO  A LIVERY  STABLE. 


77 


Or  brewers’  Beer,  the  heart  to  cheer. 

To  quench  our  thirst,  we’ll  always  bring 
Cold  Water,  from  the  well,  or  spring. 

Also,  from  Tobacco’s  use  we  plead  excuse; 

The  filth  and  scent  thus  we  prevent. 

That  does  accrue  from  Snuff  and  Chew ; 

And  Smoke,  we  abhor,  from  Pipe  or  Cigar. 

To  this  Pledge  we  live,  for  the  joy  it  will  give 
To  Fathers  and  Mothers,  our  neighbors,  and  others. 

Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio. 

Some  of  the  saloons  were  open,  but  claimed  to  be 
selling  cider  only.  One  had  protested  that  he  did  not 
sell  whiskey,  and  tried  hard  to  convince  us  of  the  fact. 
H is  door  opened  into  an  alley.  The  children  stopped 
before  his  front  window,  and  began  repeating  the 
pledge  ; he  raised  the  window,  put  his  head  out,  and 
said,  in  an  impatient  voice,  and  with  an  Irish  brogue, 
“What  are  ye  all  a doing  here?”  The  children  all 
turned  their  sober  little  faces  toward  him,  repeating 
on.  What  he  heard  was  just  the  line, 

“ Or  Whiskey  hot,  to  make  the  sot;  ” 

when  down  went  the  window.  It  was  very  amusing, 
but  none  laughed  at  the  time. 

One  place  we  visited  was  a livery  stable,  where 
many  had  been  seen  drinking  and  drunk.  The 
keeper  was  greatly  incensed  to  think  we  had  stopped 
on  his  pavement — talked  rather  roughly  ; said,  “ If  we 
came  there  just  once  more,  he  would  sell  out,  and 
set  up  in  the  liquor  business,  and  would  show  us  he 
could  sell  if  he  wanted  too.”  This  was  all  the  rough 
language  we  had  spoken  to  us,  except  by  one  drug- 
gist, who  was  so  thrown  off  his  dignity  to  think  we 


8o 


NEW  VIENNA,  OHIO. 


kept  by  John  Calvin  Van  Pelt.  The  building  was  a 
miserable  one-story  frame  structure  near  the  railroad 
depot,  and  Van  Pelt  had  the  reputation  of  being  “ the 
wickedest  man  in  Ohio.”  In  appearance  he  looked 
like  a prize-fighter,  and  in  behavior  he  acted  like  one 
possessed  of  devils. 

The  very  first  visit  of  the  ladies  enraged  Van  Pelt 
beyond  anything  they  had  ever  seen.  In  his  fury,  he 
threatened  that  if  thev  came  lo  his  saloon  asfain,  he 
would  “ hang,  draw,  and  quarter  them  every  one.” 
And  he  looked  bloodthirsty  enough  to  undertake  any 
murderous  deed. 

But,  fortunately,  these  women  were  imbued  with  a 
heroism  that  comes  from  above,  and  had  a faith  that 
would  not  shrink  in  the  presence  of  bodily  peril.  And 
the  next  day  about  fifty  of  them  marched  down  to  the 
“ Dead  Fall,”  as  though  no  threat  had  ever  been  made 
against  them. 

o 

Van  Pelt  had  made  special  preparations  for  them. 
In  one  of  his  show-windows  an  axe  besmeared  with 
blood  was  placed ; in  the  other  an  unusually  fine  dis- 
play of  whiskey-bottles;  over  the  door  jugs  and  bot- 
tles were  hung,  and  a black  flag  conspicuously  sur- 
mounted all;  while  within  doors.  Van  Pelt  could  be 
seen  walking  the  floor  and  flourishing  a club  at  invisi- 
ble  foes.  Now  this  was  all  very  consistent — whiskey, 
a rowdy  to  serve  it ; the  black  flag  and  the  axe,  the 
symbols  of  the  trade. 

The  sight  of  the  flag  and  the  axe,  nor  even  the 
hostile  demonstrations  of  Van  Pelt,  deterred  the  wo- 
men ; they  moved  right  on  without  halting,  or  a quiver 


NEW  VIENNA,  OHIO.  8 1 

of  fear,  under  the  black  flag  of  piracy  and  death,  into 
the  very  presence  of  the  man  with  the  axe  and  club. 

Van  Pelt  stood  back  in  amazement,  and  the  women 
began  to  sing  and  pray.  A great  crowd  had  gathered 
in  the  street  about  the  saloon,  but,  notwithstanding 
their  presence,  while  the  ladies  were  at  prayer,  and 
one  of  them  was  earnestly  praying  for  him  that  he 
might  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  with  a horrid 
oath  he  said,  “ Fll  baptize  you ! ” and  commenced 
dashing  buckets  of  dirty  water  over  them. 

The  crowd  of  men  were  enraged  and  threatened  him, 
but  the  ladies  plead  that  he  might  not  be  punished. 
But  some  of  the  fathers  and  husbands  of  the  women 
who  had  been  drenched  with  beer  and  dirty  water 
had  him  arrested,  and  for  a week  he  had  time  for  re- 
flection in  the  quiet  of  the  jail.  He  came  forth,  how- 
ever, more  bitter  and  furious  than  ever. 

He  had  the  audacity  to  go  to  the  Friends’  Church, 
where  the  ladies  were  holding  a meeting,  and  try  to 
engage  them  in  a public  controversy. 

“ Why  did  the  Lord  put  the  stimulant  in  the  corn 
and  grape  if  it  was  not  for  the  use  of  man?”  he 
shouted,  furiously.  His  question  betrayed  his  ignor- 
ance, and  they  might  have  answered  him  that  the  Lord 
did  not  put  it  there,  but  that  it  came  only  with  decay 
and  rottenness,  but  instead,  they  sang : 

“ My  soul  be  on  thy  guard, 

Ten  thousand  foes  ari-se, 

And  host  of  sins  are  pressing  hard 
To  draw  thee  from  the  skies;  ” 

and  prayed  for  him  especially. 

6 


NEW  VIENNA,  OHIO. 


On  the  26th  of  January,  when  the  ladies  visited  the 
saloon,  he  met  them  at  the  door,  and  told  them  they 
might  come  in  and  hold  a prayer-meeting  on  condition 
that  he  would  be  allowed  to  make  every  other  prayer. 
The  women  were  amazed,  but  consented,  and  the 
prayer-meeting  began.  A lady  was  the  first  to  pray, 
and  she  was  followed  by  a long,  blasphemous  harangue 
by  Van  Pelt. 

“ He  asked  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on  the  women, 
whom  he  classed  with  the  brutes,  and  to  teach  them 
wisdom  and  understanding.  Woman,  he  said,  first 
caused  man  to  sin,  and  there  was  great  need  of  prayer 
in  their  behalf.  He  said  the  Lord  opened  the  first 
distillery,  and  made  the  first  wine,  and  that  he  was  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  the  Lord,  and  other  like  words 
of  blasphemy.”  The  women,  although  filled  with 
amazement,  prayed  on,  until  Van  Pelt  had  made  three 
long  blasphemous  prayers.  They  looked  to  see  him 
struck  dumb  by  the  divine  power,  but  God  is  merciful 
and  rono'-suffering'  and  one  week  from  that  dav  he 
surrendered. 

He  had  given  some  intimation  that  he  would  sur- 
render  at  two  o’clock.  Boys  ran  through  the  streets 
ringing  hand-bells,  and  crying  at  the  top  of  their  voices, 
“ Everybody  meet  at  Van  Pelt’s  saloon  at  two  o’clock, 
and  hear  his  decision.” 

There  was  a general  gathering  of  the  people,  who 
closed  up  their  stores  and  shops  and  rushed  to  the 
saloon.  When  the  ladies  arrived.  Van  Pelt  presented 
himself,  and  with  a good  deal  of  feeling  said,  “ I do 
not  yield  to  law  or  force,  but  to  the  women,  who  have 
labored  in  love.” 


NEW  VIENNA,  OHIO. 


83: 

Then  ordering  the  men  to  stand  back,  he  rolled  out 
his  stock  of  liquors,  and  taking  the  axe  besmeared 
with  blood,  with  which  he  had  tried  to  terrify  the 
women,  he  knocked  In  the  head  of  every  cask,  and 
sent  the  contents  gurgling  down  the  gutter. 

Then  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  he  said, 
most  solemnly,  “ Ladles,  I now  promise  you  to  never 
sell  or  drink  another  drop  of  whiskey  as  long  as  I 
live,  and  also  promise  to  work  with  you  In  the  cause 
with  as  much  zeal  as  I have  worked  against  you.” 

He  also  remarked  that  he  hoped  the  women  of  the 
United  States  would  never  cease  until  every  drop  of 
whiskey  was  emptied  upon  the  ground,  as  his  was. 

Just  then  the  train  from  Cincinnati  arrived.  The 
crowd  set  up  a deafening  cheer.  A photographist 
caught  the  scene,  and  preserved  It  to  posterity.  The 
women  gathered  around  Van  Pelt,  shaking  his  hands, 
and  congratulating  him,  and  the  glad  news  spread 
through  the  town,  creatinof  areat  excitement. 

The  doxology  was  sung,  and  all  the  bells  of  the 
town  were  rung  In  honor  of  the  occasion.  That 
evening  Van  Pelt  spoke  at  a mass-meeting  and  con- 
fessed his  wickedness,  and  denounced  the  business. 
He  referred  to  his  saloon  as  a low  doggery,  saying, 
“Yes,  ril  call  it  a low  doggery,  for  no  man  can  keep  a 
hlHi  one.”  He  had  often  taken  the  last  ten  cents 

o 

from  a man  for  whiskey  when  he  knew  that  the  money- 
had  been  earned  by  his  wife  or  child.  Every  man  who 
sells  whiskey  does  this.  Little  faces  thus  robbed  had 
often  appealed  to  his  heart  with  greater  force  than 
any  words  of  man.  He  was  now  determined  to  quit 


84 


KENTON  AND  GALLIPOLIS,  OHIO. 


this  business  forever,  and  throw  his  strenofth  on  the 
other  side  of  the  question. 

Thus  New  Vienna  was  cleared  of  grog-shops. 

KENTON,  OHIO. 

The  Crusade  work  began  early  in  January.  The 
town  was  canvassed,  and  a large  number  of  personal 
pledges  obtained,  and  by  the  2d  February  ten  saloons 
had  surrendered,  and  two  were  closed  by  law. 

General  Robinson,  during  the  work,  made  a most 
eloquent  and  impressive  address,  showing  up  the 
whiskey-ring  in  a way  that  made  them  instantly  quail. 

GALLIPOLIS,  OHIO. 

This  town  was  settled  by  the  French,  in  1790,  and 
from  that  day  on  whiskey  flowed  freely. 

Early  in  January,  the  women  commenced  Crusade 
work,  and  by  March  2d,  three  saloon-keepers  had 
yielded.  ' Mr.  Crowley  allowed  them  to  take  down  his 
sign  and  empty  his  whiskey  into  the  gutter.  Three 
hundred  habitual  drunkards  signed  the  pledge.  All 
sects  and  parties  united  in  the  great  reform ; and  at 
the  annual  election  a majority  in  favor  of  a prohibitory 
ordinance  was  secured,  and  five  out  of  six  of  the  seats 
in  the  council,  and  all  the  school  board,  and  most  of 
the  minor  offices  were  filled  by  temperance  men. 

The  result  was,  that  sixteen  saloons  closed,  and  t/ie 
police-officers  rep07'ted  crime  lessened  nine-te7iths. 

GREENFIELD,  OHIO. 

The  secretary  gives  the  following  statement  of  work : 

Our  league  began  the  work  January  12th,  1874. 
and  continued  until  the  latter  part  of  March. 


CRUSADE  AT  GREENFIELD. 


85 


For  nearly  three  months  we  visited  saloons  almost 
every  day.  At  the  end  of  that  time  there  was  bitt  one 
saloonist  who  had  not  made  some  concessions  to  us ; 
and,  except  by  the  drug  stores,  and  this  one  saloon, 
there  was  no  liquor  sold  in  our  town. 

Few  of  these,  however,  had  signed  the  pledge,  but 
from  outside  pressure  abandoned  it  for  the  time  being. 

RESULTS. 

How  we  in  our  weak  human  nature  love  to  see  the 
results  of  our  work  for  Jesus  ! 

To-day,  three  years  and  a half  after,  we  find  four  of 
the  fifteen  places  where  liquor  was  sold  have  kept 
their  pledges ; a number  of  moderate  drinkers  reformed 
have  stood  fast.  But  the  greatest  and  grandest  result 
is  that  of  the  change  of  public  sentiment.  Four  years 
ago  a temperance  lecturer,  of  no  mean  ability,  could 
scarcely  find  a respectable  sized  audience  to  listen  to 
him;  but  at  any  time  since  the  Woman’s  Crusade  the 
simple  announcement  of  a temperance  mass-meeting 
would  insure  a crowded  hall.  Our  League  in  all  these 
years  has  still  prayed  that  in  some  way  God  would 
carry  on  the  work.  One  earnest  petition  was  that 
God  would  raise  up  some  one  in  ottr  midst  who  would 
be  a “sharp  arrow,”  and  last  May,  God  answered  our 
prayer,  and  Senator  Dickey  came  over  from  the  ranks 
of  King  Alcohol,  and  from  under  the  power  of  sin,  into 
the  temperance  army  and  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
This  man  inaugurated  the  Murphy  movement  in 
Greenfield,  which  we  feel  to  be  the  outgrowth  of  the 
Woman’s  Crusade.  Many  who  have  always  scoffed 


86 


CIWSADE  AT  FRANKLIN. 


at  the  Crusade  now  refer  to  it  with  the  deepest 
respect,  and  acknowledge  it  to  have  been  a fore- 
runner of  this  great  thing  which  we  know  is 
also  of  the  Lord.  I want  to  add  that  our  ladies 
were  always  kindly  treated  by  the  saloonists ; we 
have  no  thrilling  experiences  to  tell  or  hairbreadth 
escapes  to  relate ; also  that  the  gentlemen  “ held 
the  rope  ” always. 

When  we  met  at  the  church  to  start  to  work,  they 
met  with  us,  and  while  we  went  to  the  saloons  they 
prayed,  or  rather  had  all-day  prayer-meetings,  often 
expressing  their  sympathy  by  ringing  the  bell. 

Then,  too,  we  had  messenger  boys,  who  would  carry 
little  notes  from  the  league  to  the  church,  reporting 
various  stages  of  the  work  to  our  brothers  at  the 

o 

church.  At  the  close  of  the  day  we  returned  to  the 
church  to  sing,  perhaps,  “ One  more  day’s  work  for 
Jesus,”  before  we  went  to  our  homes. 

Clinton,  the  worst  man  engaged  in  the  business, 
whose  place  was  named  “The  Den  of  Iniquity,”  said, 
after  his  surrender,  “I  thought  I had  sand  enough  in 
my  craw  to  stand  anything ; but  the  prayers  of  these 
women  did  stir  me  up;  they  Avere  enough  to  sink  a 
wooden  man.”  Thirteen  saloons  in  all  were  closed. 

FRANKLIN,  OHIO. 

There  were  six  saloons  in  this  village,  when  the 
Crusade  commenced,  January  21st.  Webber,  a Ger- 
man saloon-keeper,  sent  for  a brass  band  to  drown  the 
voices  of  the  praying  women,  but  prayer  and  tears 
silenced  the  band,  and  they  fled  from  the  field,  and 


CRUSADE  AT  MORROW.  87 

Webber  himself  signed  the  dealer’s  pledge  and  gave 
up  the  business. 

Five  thousand  dollars  were  raised  to  keep  saloons 
out  of  the  town,  and  a library  and  social  hall  estab- 
lished, and  eighteen  hundred  dollars  raised  to  purchase 
books,  and  to  pay  the  rent  of  the  hall.  The  rent  of 
the  hall  was  prepaid  for  twenty  years. 

MORROW,  OHIO. 

The  ladies  of  Morrow  commenced  the  street  work, 
January  26th,  to  encounter  seventeen  drinking  places, 
fourteen  of  which  were  regular  saloons. 

They  labored  unceasingly  till  all  but  two  insignifi- 
cant doggeries  were  closed  ; these  held  out  persistently. 

A correspondent  of  a Cincinnati  paper  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  town,  which  had  been  blasted 
by  rum : 

“ Population,  eleven  hundred ; drinking  places, 
fifteen ; increase  of  population  in  ten  years,  two 
hundred  persons  ; increase  of  municipal  taxation,  one 
hundred  and  thirty  per  cent. ; decline  in  business 
reported  at  twenty-five  per  cent. ; manufactures 
nothing,  and  no  increase  in  the  value  of  property ; 
eio'hteen  vacant  dwellinor-houses,  and  numbers  of  the 
best  citizens  removed.  Such  are  the  facts  griven  me 
by  the  ‘ old  and  reliable.’  Verily  it  was  time  for  the 
law  or  the  gospel  to  do  something.  The  place  has  a 
beautiful  and  romantic  site.  They  have  three  rail- 
roads, and  expect  connection  soon  with  a trunk  line 
to  the  East.  On  one  side  is  the  river,  and  on  the 
other  the  beautiful  hill,  with  hundreds  of  sites  for 


88 


MORROW,  OHIO. 


palatial  residences.  In  the  neighborhood  is  good 
fishing  and  hunting,  and  all  around  is  scenery  unsur- 
passed in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Apparently  this  is  just 
the  place  for  a favorite  summer  resort. 

“ Twenty-five  years  ago  Morrow  had  aspirations. 
There  were,  and  are,  unsurpassed  facilities  for  manu- 
facturing— still  unimproved.  Three  large  hotels  at 
that  time  were  filled  most  of  the  summer  with  families 
and  visitors  from  Cincinnati.  The  society  was  good; 
church,  school,  and  lyceum  were  thoroughly  organized ; 
and  besides  the  manufacturing  interests  which  were 
being  established,  the  place  expected  to  become  a city 
of  elegant  retired  country-seats.  Somehow  the 
saloons  got  the  start,  the  manufacturers  took  the 
alarm,  the  expected  good  families  did  not  come,  and 
many  that  were  here  moved  away.  If  the  place  has 
improved  in  twenty  years,  that  fact  is  not  apparent  to 
the  naked  eye.  Still  there  are  many  good  families  in 
Morrow.  They  have  borne  the  demoralization  and 
tyranny  of  the  whiskey  power  until  it  has  become  a 
question  of  life  and  death  with  them  ; and  they  have 
entered  on  this  struggle  in  the  spirit  in  which  patriots 
fight  for  their  homes,  feeling  that  unless  they  conquer, 
they  must  emigrate.  It  is  not  a question  of  philan- 
thropy alone,  and  other  people’s  good,  here,  as  in 
some  places  ; they  must  conquer  or  die.” 

Wilmington,  a neighboring  town,  had  been  cleared 
of  the  trafific,  and  Mrs.  Runyan,  the  wife  of  a Methodist 
minister,  and  Mrs.  Hadley,  a Quakeress,  went  over 
from  that  place  to  Morrow  to  aid  their  sisters  in  the 
Crusade.  There  was  great  enthusiasm ; over  fifty 


MORROW,  OHIO,  89 

ladies  rallied  around  them,  and  the  work  commenced 
in  earnest. 

There  were  many  hard  cases  among  the  saloon- 
keepers. Looskins  threatened  to  shoot  the  first 
woman  that  crossed  his  threshold. 

A notice  was  posted  up  conspicuously  in  Opes’  and 
Goepper’s  saloon,  “No  singing  and  praying  women 
allowed  here.”  Martin  Fath  brought  out  his  sewing 
machine  and  ran  it  violently  during  their  stay.  Some 
of  the  saloons  locked  their  doors. 

Henry  Scheide,  who  was  a young  man  of  some 
culture,  and  kept  the  most  respectable  saloon  in  the 
place,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  hardest  cases. 

A Cincinnati  reporter  gives  us  the  following  sample 
of  Schelde’s  rambling  talk ; 

We’ll  worry ’em  some,  though  I’m  the  only  one 
that  lets  the  ladies  in.  It  don’t  bother  me  much  ; they 
only  sing  and  pray,  and  stay  about  half  an  hour.  I’ll 
open  every  time  they  come,  shutting  doors  on  nobody. 
There’s  no  rowdies  come  into  this  place.  Those 
ladies  don’t  understand  it:  they  have  a foolish  preju- 
dice about  this  business.  Now  I can  run  this  estab- 
lishment just  as  nice  as  a dry  goods  store,  and  I 
do.  ...  O,  if  they’d  stay  all  day,  I’d  soon  stop  that. 
This  is  my  business,  and  I won’t  let  anybody  interfere 
with  it.  There’s  a State  law  against  selling  by  the 
drink,  but  nobody  pays  any  attention  to  it.  We  run 
that  risk.  No  man  but  a low  sneak,  who  has  a spite 
against  you,  will  drink  in  your  house,  and  then  go  and 
make  complaint  against  you.  The  council  won’t 
make  any  order  here.  They’re  men  of  too  much 


90 


MORROW,  OHIO. 


sense.  I tell  you  a town  must  have  a decent  saloon, 
or  it  won’t  prosper.  All  the  farmers  nearly  in  the 
country,  when  they  go  to  sell  their  grain  or  buy  goods, 
are  going  where  they  can  get  a dram.  They  will 
have  their  beer  or  ale.  Stop  the  sale  here,  and  two- 
thirds  of  our  travel  leaves  us.  Maybe,  though,  if  no 
town  had  saloons,  it  might  make  it  even ; but  the 
others  will  have  them. 

“Women  get  along  in  all  these  towns  because  they 
have  no  opposition.  Mayor  and  officers  and  lawj’ers 
are  all  with  them,  because  it  was  a new  thingf-  But 
here  we’ve  got  some  rights.  Our  lawyers  are  with  us. 
It’s  politics  that’s  really  at  the  bottom  of  this  thing. 
It’s  been  tried  here.” 

I gleam  the  following  facts  from  the  writings  of 
T.  A.  H.  Brown,  in  “Fifty  Years’  History  of  the  Tem- 
perance Cause.” 

On  the  17th  of  February,  Henry  Scheide  went 
before  Judge  Gilmore,  of  Eaton,  with  the  following 
petition ; 

“The  said  Henry  Scheide,  plaintiff,  prays  that  each 
and  every  one  of  the  said  defendants,  individually, 
jointly,  and  collectively,  be  restrained,  prohibited,  and 
enjoined  from  molesting,  disturbing,  or  hindering  the 
said  Flenry  Scheide  in  the  prosecuting  and  conducting 
his  said  business,  upon  any  pretence  or  pretext  what- 
ever, and  invading,  or  meeting  in  or  about  his 
premises,  to  obstruct  his  said  business ; and  also  prays 
iudement  aeainst  all  of  said  defendants  for  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  prays  for  all  other  proper 
relief  in  the  premises.” 


MORROW,  OHIO. 


91 


The  said  defendants  were — 


Mrs.  E.  R.  Grim, 


Mrs.  Id.  J.  Coffeen, 


Frank  Forshnell, 
Geo.  W.  Davis, 
John  Hanford, 
Oscar  Hanford, 
B.  F.  Wilson, 


Josiah  Fairchild, 
Porter  Corson, 
Jas.  FI.  Jeffery, 
W.  P.  Hanford, 
J.  T.  Welch, 


and  one  hundred  and  four  other  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
amonor  whom  were  Dio  Fewis  and  Van  Pelt. 

o 

The  trial  came  off  at  Febanon,  the  28th  of  February. 
It  was  a great  day  in  Febanon.  The  whole  town  of 
Morrow  came  over.  A public  dinner  was  given  by 
the  Febanon  ladies  to  their  persecuted  sisters.  Forty 
of  the  defendants  marched  to  the  court-house  in 
solemn  procession.  Every  inch  of  space  in  the 
building  was  packed  full. 

After  noticing  the  first  two  points  at  length,  the 
judge  decides  on  the  third  point  of  the  case  as  follows : 
Judge  Smith  presiding.  “ But  there  is  another  ground, 
which,  in  my  judgment,  effectually  disposes  of  this 
motion.  That  is  third,  viz. : That  the  allegations  of 
the  petition  are  not  true.  He  alleges  that  he  kept  a 
house  where  he  conducted  business  according  to  law. 
From  the  nature  of  the  case,  the  character  of  this 
business  in  this  respect  is  directly  in  issue,  and  from 
the  proof  it  is  perfectly  clear  to  my  mind  that  instead 
of  this  it  was  a place  where  intoxicating  liquors  were 
habitually  sold,  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  the  State, 
and  where  gambling  was  constantly  being  carried  on. 

“Such  a place  as  this  our  statute  expressly  declares 
to  be  a public  nuisance,  and  which  being  shown  in  a 


92 


MORROW,  OHIO. 


proper  case  would  have  to  be  ordered  by  the  court  to 
be  shut  up.  Now,  the  doctrine  is  perfectly  well 
settled  that  a nuisance,  either  public  or  private,  may 
be  abated  even  by  force,  so  no  breach  of  the  peace  is 
committed.  Surely,  then,  the  means  used  here,  with 
the  view  of  abating  this  nuisance,  were  not  unlawful  or 
in  derogation  of  the  rights  of  the  plaintiff;  for,  as  the 
keeper  of  such  an  establishment,  the  maintainer  of  a 
public  nuisance,  and  a gambling-house,  he  can  have 
no  standing  in  a court  of  equity,  when  he  asks  to  be 
protected  in  his  unlawful  and  criminal  business.  The 
injunction  will  be  dissolved  at  plaintiff’s  costs.” 

Thus  the  women  triumphed  in  the  only  injunction 
case  of  the  Crusade  that  was  decided  on  its  merits. 
There  was  great  rejoicing  at  Morrow.  A correspond- 
ent, writing  from  there  under  the  inspiration  of  the 
good  news,  gives  the  following  graphic  description  of 
the  scene : 

“As  I write,  the  band  is  playing  and  marching 
through  our  streets,  followed  by  an  immense  throng 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  shouting  and  rejoicing. 
Every  church  bell,  school  bell,  etc.,  in  town  is  ringing, 
and  two  or  three  locomotives  are  creatinor  a terrible 
noise,  whistling  and  ringing  their  bells.  In  fact,  the 
entire  town  is  wild  with  excitement.  Hundreds  of 
country  people,  hearing  the  noise  of  the  bells  and 
general  tumult,  are  flocking  to  town  from  all  quarters, 
many  thinking  the  village  was  in  flames.  An  immense 
meeting  is  now  in  progress  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  addition  to  the  immense  throng  upon  our 
streets.  Speeches  are  being  made,  and  cheer  upon 


MORROW,  OHIO. 


93 


cheer  is  rending  the  air.  Morrow  never  had  such  an 
awakening,  everybody  being  happy  except  the  lawyers 
who  defended  Scheide,  and  four  or  five  saloon 
patrons.” 

It  was  too  much  for  Schelde.  He  shut  up  his  estab- 
lishment, and  left  the  town  ; and  thus  ends  the  history 
of  the  “ only  respectable  saloon  in  Morrow.” 

The  women  were  out  every  day,  in  constantly  in- 
creasing numbers.  Enthusiastic  mass-meetings  were 
held  every  night.  Almost  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  In  the  vicinity,  not  engaged  in  the  liquor  business, 
signed  the  total  abstinence  pledge.  One  after  an- 
other the  saloon-keepers  gathered  their  traps  about 
them  and  silently  stole  away,  until  the  number  was 
reduced  to  three  or  four. 

One  of  these  was  Max  Goepper,  a brother  of  the 
wealthy  Cincinnati  brewer,  who  kept  a low  place  close 
by  the  depot.  To  this  the  women  devoted  their  atten- 
tion, and  passengers  on  the  Little  Miami  trains  might 
see  them  at  almost  any  hour,  from  six  in  the  morning 
until  ten  at  night,  kneeling  on  the  steps  before  the 
door  with  their  piteous  faces  upturned,  and  pleading 
with  the  Almighty  to  have  mercy  upon  that  saloon- 
keeper, and  change  his  heart.  Just  within  the  door 
stood  Goepper,  with  a cigar  in  his  mouth  and  a 
sardonic  grin  on  his  face,  winking  at  the  train  men,  or 
at  some  old  customer  whom  he  saw  in  the  crowd.  In 
the  window  hung  a caricature  of  a dead  man  being 
carried  off  on  a bier,  and  underneath  the  inscription. 

This  man  was  prayed  to  death.”  It  was  a sight  that 
brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  many  a traveller,  at  the 
same  time  that  it  provoked  a smile. 


94 


OXFORD,  OHIO. 


At  last,  on  a morning  early  in  March,  the  ladies 
came  as  usual,  and  found  only  the  empty  shell  of  the 
old  shanty.  Goepper  and  his  effects  had  disappeared. 
The  bells  were  rung  loud  and  long,  and  the  patient 
and  persistent  workers  wept  for  joy.  It  was  one  of 
the  most  signal  victories  of  the  campaign. 

OXFORD,  OHIO. 

Oxford,  with  a population  of  i ,800,  had  twelve  saloons. 
The  women  commenced  Crusade  work  January  31st, 
1874,  and  by  the  27th  of  March  every  saloon  was 
closed  but  one. 

One  noble  woman,  Mrs.  Sheard,  over  seventy  years 
of  age,  put  out  her  washing  before  daylight  on  that 
morning,  so  that  with  home  work  all  done,  she  might 
be  able  to  go  with  the  Crusade  band  into  the  streets; 
other  ladies  were  equally  energetic  and  determined. 

Wertz  and  Barraclough,  after  closing  their  saloon, 
sold  out  their  fixtures  at  auction. 

The  wealthier  citizens  purchased  them,  and  pre- 
sented them  to  the  ladies  as  mementos.  Glasses 
brought  as  high  as  $1.50,  and  other  things  in  pro- 
portion. 

March  31st,  the  last  saloon-keeper,  Mr.  Taylor, 
signed  the  pledge.  Thus  in  just  two  months  of  prayer 
and  effort  every  saloon  in  the  town  was  closed.  A 
jubilee  festival  was  held,  to  which  the  saloon-keepers 
and  their  families  were  invited. 

During  the  Crusade,  out  of  a population  of  1,800, 
1,200  signed  the  pledge. 


McArthur,  ohio. 


95 


McArthur,  ohio. 

McArthur  is  the  county-seat  of  Vinton  county;  has 
a population  of  800.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
Crusade  five  saloons  were  in  full  blast ; four  of  them 
were  closed  in  one  week. 

One  of  the  worst  places  was  a gambling  and  faro- 
bank.  A correspondent  gives  us  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  closino-  of  this  den  : 

o 

“ Fifty  women  singing  and  praying  in  a faro-bank  is 
calculated  to  cause  quite  an  interest  in  almost  any 
place,  and  especially  in  our  usually  unaccustomed-to- 
excitement  village.  The  rooms  were  crowded  to  over- 
flowing by  curious  and  interested  spectators.  The 
proprietor  had  boasted  that  the  ‘praying-band’  had 
not  enouo-h  ‘ religion  ’ and  too  little  ‘ faith’  to  visit  him, 
and  even  threatened  violence  should  such  an  action  be 
attempted.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  evening  ser- 
vices at  the  churches,  the  ladies  formed  in  line  of 
march,  accompanied  by  the  marshal  and  one  or  two 
others,  in  case  their  services  were  needed  in  an 
emergency,  and  the  attack  was  made.  They  were 
received  without  opposition.  Crowds  followed,  the 
rooms  were  filled,  and  a large  number  remained  below 
on  the  sidewalk.  Singing  and  prayer  were  held  for 
about  an  hour,  when  the  band  took  their  leave,  thank- 
ing the  proprietor  for  his  courtesy,  and  he  in  turn 
requesting  them  to  return  ; but  this  they  had  not  the 
opportunity  of  doing.  The  next  day  he  closed  his 
establishment,  sold  his  tables  and  chairs,  and  de- 
camped, saying  that  being  prayed  out  of  town  was  a 
new  experience  to  him,  and  that  he  had  best  leave. 


96 


GEORGETOWN,  OHIO. 


GEORGETOWN,  OHIO. 

This  is  an  old  aristocratic  town ; like  Hillsboro’, 
many  of  the  early  settlers  were  from  Virginia  or 
Kentucky,  and  had  the  same  ideas  of  hospitality. 

My  earliest  recollections  of  Georgetown  are  of  its 
splendid  monthly  balls,  and  the  fashion  and  gayety  of 
the  people  who  attended  them,  coming  many  of  them 
from  long  distances. 

The  inhabitants  suffered  terribly  from  the  drink 
ravages,  and  yet  drinking  was  deemed  respectable. 

The  Crusade  commenced  late  in  January,  and  on 
February  28th  the  last  saloon  closed. 

We  orive  the  following  incidents  of  the  Crusade  from 

o o 

a correspondent : 

“One  man,  on  being  approached  by  the  ladies,  had 
nerved  himself  for  the  shock  with  the  electrifying  fluid 
of  his  own  establishment.  By  his  side  sat  a glass  half 
full,  ready  to  be  swallowed  as  soon  as  the  burning 
effects  of  the  first  had  cooled.  When  asked  if  he 
would  quit  selling  liquor,  his  response  was,  suggested, 
no  doubt,  by  the  inward  burning:  ‘No!  not  till  h — 1 
freezes  over.’  Since  then  the  wicked  of  this  com- 
munity, before  whom  the  lake  of  fire  has  been  a dread- 
ful reality,  have  had  great  occasion  to  rejoice. 

“At  the  second  place  visited,  the  proprietor,  fearing 
the  prayers  of  the  ladies  would  annihilate  his  stock, 
had  it  rolled  out  on  the  sidewalk  and  labelled  ‘ Cin- 
cinnati.’ He  told  them,  in  answer  to  inquiry  respect- 
ing the  cessation  of  his  business,  that  they  might 
report  him  closed.  This,  however,  was  only  a dodge 
to  evade  the  pressure  of  this  movement.  He  after- 


GEORGETOWN,  OHIO. 


97 


wards  closed,  however,  and  allowed  his  liquors  to  be 
emptied  in  the  street. 

“ The  proprietor  of  another  saloon  wept  during  the 
first  visit  of  the  ladies  ; said  he  was  a Christian  man  ; 
could  not  quit  the  business  at  present,  as  he  had 
bought  property,  and  his  word  was  out  to  pay  for  it ; 
said  also  that  he  could  not  let  his  wife  and  children 
suffer  for  food  and  clothing.  He  gave  a written 
pledge,  however,  that  he  would  never  sell  another 
drop  of  intoxicating  liquor  after  the  present  was  gone. 

“Judging  from  the  professions  of  the  next  man,  we 
would  classify  him  with  an  ancient  order  of  people. 

‘ He  is  not  as  other  people ; he  prays  twice  a day;  was 
foreordained  from  all  eternity  to  sell  liquor  ; considers 
it  no  more  harm  than  to  sell  calico.’  A few  days 
afterwards,  we  thought  his  Calvinism  knocked  end- 
ways, as  he  solemnly  pledged  the  temperance  people 
he  would  never  sell  again.  But  nickels  were  too 
tempting.  The  next  day  he  was  discovered  selling. 
Had  this  not  been  a ruse  to  secure  the  intercessions  of 
the  ladies  before  the  court  in  his  behalf,  his  return  to 
his  foul  business  would  have  verified  the  old  proverb. 
He  persists  that  there  was  a mistake  in  his  promise ; 
that  it  embraced  a condition.  We  are  happy  to  record 
he  has  since  closed  up  unconditionally. 

“At  another  place,  the  proprietor  said  as  he  was  a law- 
abiding  citizen,  and  sold  only  according  to  law,  that  he 
would  lose  every  drop  of  blood  in  his  body  before  he 
would  give  up  the  business.  This  was  severe  on  the 
ladies.  Until  then  they  had  not  perceived  they  were 
warring  against  legitimate  business.  But  the  next 
7 


9^ 


LOGAN,  OHIO. 


day,  on  learning  that  some  one  had  indicted  all  of  these 
law-abiding  meii  before  the  grand  jury,  their  conscien- 
tious scruples  vanished.  At  this  place,  too,  temper- 
ance triumphed  and  no  blood  was  shed.” 

WHO  ARE  THESE  WOMEN? 

In  all  adjacent  towns,  the  wildest  rumors  are  afloat 
as  to  who  the  praying  women  are.  Some  say  they  are 
strangers  sent  here  to  do  this  work.  Those  not  in 
sympathy  with  us  say  they  are  from  the  lower  strata 
of  society,  and  that  among  them  are  women  of  ques- 
tionable character.  Let  the  liquor-dealers  of  George- 
town be  asked,  and,  if  men  of  veracity,  they  will  say 
they  are  the  women  of  Georgetown,  and  the  very  best 
of  its  female  inhabitants.  They  are  the  wives  and 
daughters  of  the  ministers,  bankers,  judges,  lawj'ers, 
merchants  and  mechanics  of  this  place.” 

LOGAN,  OHIO. 

The  following  was  reported  by  Mrs.  John  Walker: 

“ Logan,  the  county-seat  of  Hocking,  with  two  thou- 
sand inhabitants,  contained,  before  the  Grusade,  eigh- 
teen saloons,  most  of  them  doing  a profitable  business. 
Much  of  the  wealth  of  the  town  w^as  in  the  hands  of 
prominent  liquor-sellers,  and  men  in  other  business 
quailed  before  them.  Our  lawyers  and  office-holders, 
with  scarcely  an  exception,  were  in  their  interests.  But 
God  had  a chosen  few  who  caught  the  inspiration  of 
the  Crusade. 

“ It  is  a remarkable  fact  that  several  towns  took  up 
the  work  simultaneously,  and,  with  but  little  knowledge 


LOGAN,  OHIO. 


99 


of  what  the  others  were  doing,  worked  substantially  in 
the  same  manner,  as  we  found  in  comparing  notes 
afterwards. 

“We  were,  as  we  supposed,  the  fifth  town  in  point 
of  succession,  but  found  that  other  towns  had  com- 
menced at  the  same  time.  We  felt  the  magnitude  of 
our  work,  for  many  of  these  liquor-dealers  were  our 
neighbors  and  friends — some  of  them  the  magnates  of 
our  town. 

“And  I speak  what  I know  of  our  women,  when  I 
repel  the  accusation  since  made  against  the  Crusade, 
that  one  element  in  its  work  was  a spirit  of  persecution. 
So  far  as  our  work  was  concerned,  all  bitterness  was 
laid  aside.  We  felt  called  to  work  for  the  Master,  and 
with  as  much  of  his  spirit  as  possible.  Our  meetings 
were  solemn  ; our  processions  well  ordered  ; our  work 
determined  and  telling;  for  God  seemed  to  come  so 
near  to  us  that  we  touched  his  guiding  hand.  No 
woman  among  us,  who  entered  into  the  spirit  of  it, 
doubts  for  a moment  the  Almighty  guidance.  I can 
never  describe  my  own  feelings  as  the  leader  of  it.  I 
seemed  under  a mighty  inspiration,  so  calm,  so  peace- 
ful, so  fearless,  so  trustful,  and  with  remarkably  clear 
views  of  God’s  truth,  so  that  I would  select  passages, 
for  public  reading  without  hesitation.  I receivedl 
threatening  letters.  My  husband  was  advised  to  com- 
pel me  to'  stay  at  home,  as  I would  ruin  his  business 
(banking,  which  was  never  harmed). 

“Country  people  flocked  into  our  town  and  were 
amazed;  there  was  so  much  power  in  the  work — power 
from  on  high.  It  was  a spiritual  phenomenon,  unex- 


lOO 


LOGAN,  OHIO. 


plainable,  even  to  ourselves.  ‘ How  our  hearts  burned 
as  we  talked  of  Him  by  the  way !’ 

“Our  Master  walked  with  us.  In  three  weeks,  we 
had  the  four  drug  stores  under  pledge,  and  all  the 
saloons  closed  except  one.  That  one  was  upheld 
by  wholesale  dealers  in  cities,  and  by  the  Catholic 
priest  at  home.  We  labored  with  the  priest,  but  he 
steadily  told  us  that  he  interfered  with  no  man’s 
business. 

“Our  Lutheran  minister  also  upheld  his  people 
who  sold  liquor.  Now  for  the  results: 

“Although  some  of  these  liquor-sellers  gave  us  their 
hand  before  the  crowd,  and  with  tears  promised  they 
would  never  sell  liquor  again,  after  a few  months  they 
returned  to  it  again,  and  as  much  liquor  was  sold  as 
before.  There  is  a kind  of  brotherhood  amonof  them, 
and  they  fear  and  influence  each  other. 

“ But  was  the  Crusade  a failure,  as  some  have  said? 
By  no  means.  We  gave  the  liquor-business  a blow  in 
this  town,  from  which  it  never  has  and  7iever  will  7'ecover. 
Some  of  our  Germans  in  that  business  I think  had 
no  idea  until  then  how  disreputable  it  was  in  the  eyes 
of  Americans.  They  feel  it  now. 

“ It  is  neither  respectable  to  sell  nor  drink  whiskey  in 
this  town  now,  although  much  of  it  is  done  ; for  so  long 
as  there  is  money  in  the  business,  it  will  be  continued. 

“ Public  opinion  has  taken  an  inijneiise  stride.  One 
of  these  wealthy  liquor-dealers  has  recently  died,  leav- 
ing orders  that  no  liquor  should  ever  again  be  sold  at 
his  place  of  business,  and  a nice  hardware-store  now 
fills  its  place.  Another  young  man  has  left  the  busi- 


LOGAN,  OHIO. 


lOI 


ness,  and  opened  a furniture  store.  Several  others  are 
now  shut  for  want  of  custom. 

“ It  was  a fearful  reaction  which  followed  the  Cru- 
sade— the  mighty  wave  threw  up  the  mire  and  filth  in 
the  community.  This  element  festered,  and  in  sheer 
bravado  many  of  them  have  tried  to  show  these  women 
that  they  will  sell  and  drink  in  spite  of  them.  But  our 
‘boys  in  blue’  are  coming  to  the  rescue.  Each  tem- 
perance revival  seems  to  be  an  outcome  of  the  preced- 
ing one.” 

We  add  the  following  from  D.  Little: 

“ But  two  of  the  twenty  liquor  hells  in  our  town,  that 
surrendered,  possessed  any  interest  to  those  who  do 
not  believe  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer. 

“ Mr.  Barnhardt,  the  day  of  his  surrender,  knelt  with 
the  ladies,  and  tearfully  promised  them  that  he  would 
never  sell  any  more  spirituous  liquors ; that  he  was 
convinced  that  it  was  a great  sin  to  do  so.  He  hoped 
they  would  be  as  successful  at  all  the  other  saloons  as 
they  were  at  his.  He  has  been,  ever  since  his  sur- 
render, one  of  our  best  temperance  men. 

“ Mr.  Rohler’s  surrender  was  the  same  as  Mr.  Barn- 
hardt’s.  Upon  his  surrender,  the  ladies  sang  ‘ Praise 
God,’  etc. 

“ One  of  the  most  remarkable  cases  of  God’s  answer- 
ing prayer  is  told  by  our  good  sister  F.  Her  hus- 
band is  a kind-hearted  marl,  a good  mechanic,  and, 
until  he  commenced  drinkino",  was  one  of  our  most 
thrifty  mechanics.  He  ran  through  with  all  the  accumu- 
lation of  3'ears,  and  but  for  the  hand-work  of  his  wife, 
Ins  family  would  have  suffered  for  bread. 


102 


CRUSADE  AT  m’cONNELSVILLE. 


“ Mrs.  F.  felt  that  there  was  no  safety  for  her  hus- 
band without  God  would  take  from  him  his  appetite 
for  whiskey.  She  believed  that  God  would  do  it,  if 
she  asked  him.  She  prayed  that  God  would  take  from 
him  the  desire  for  whiskey.  At  this  time  he  had  not 
taken  any  stimulant  for  a week.  He  would  walk  the 
floor  of  his  shop  in  the  greatest  distress,  and  in  going 
to  and  from  his  meals,  he  went  through  the  alleys, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  saloons,  knowing,  as  he  says,  he 
could  not  resist  the  temptation. 

“Alter  about  a week  of  such  suffering,  his  desire  for 
whiskey  was  taken  away,  and  he  says  he  has  no  more 
taste  for  it  now  than  when  he  was  a child.  He  is 
happy,  cheerful.  Industrious,  and  says  he  will  never 
drink  any  more.” 

McCONNELSVILLE,  OHIO. 

Mrs.  Eva  R.  Sprague  writes  of  the  work  at  this 
point : 

We  organized  February  14th,  1874,  under  the  name 
of  McConnelsville  Women’s  Temperance  League; 
officers : president,  vice-president,  treasurer,  and  sec- 
retary. 

The  usual  constitution,  by-laws,  and  pledges  were 
adopted,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  signatures 
obtained. 

We  owed  largely  our  success,  under  God,  to  our 
venerable  president,  IMother  Paxton,  who,  although 
bending  under  the  weight  of  years  (she  was  at  the 
time  seventy-seven),  was,  nevertheless,  prompt  in  at- 
tendance at  each  of  our  meetings,  and  in  the  street' 
work,  no  matter  how  inclement  the  weather. 


CRUSADE  AT  MARYSVILLE. 


103 


As  a result  of  our  efforts,  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
every  saloon  in  our  town  was  closed.  (There  are  now 
six  saloons  in  the  place  against  which  we  are  battling.) 
Some  of  the  persons  who  were  then  dealing  out  death 
to  their  fellow-creatures  are  now  efficient  members  of 
Christ’s  visible  church.  So  manifest  was  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  our  meetings  and  work,  that  de- 
nominational lines  seemed  to  have  melted  away,  and  a 
heavenly  union  “like  to  that  above”  prevailed. 

A blessed  revival  of  relio^ion  and  an  ino^atherinof  of 
members  to  the  churches  followed,  as  a matter  of  course. 
Our  meetings  were  kept  up  for  several  months,  and 
were  seasons  of  great  soul-enjoyment  to  those  who 
attended,  and  the  savor  of  their  influence  will,  we 
hope,  never  be  lost  upon  the  members  of  the  League, 
and  the  Christians  of  McConnelsville. 

MARYSVILLE,  OHIO. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  February  14th,  1874,  an 
interestinsT  mass-meetinor  was  held  in  Union  Hall ; 
every  available  foot  of  room  was  packed.  This  meet- 
ing was  the  means  of  developing  much  temperance 
feeling,  which  rapidly  grew  ; and  on  Thursday,  Friday, 
and  Saturday,  devotional  meetings  were  held  at  the 
Congregational  Church. 

Monday  afternoon,  thirty  or  forty  ladies  formed  into 
line,  and  marched  to  the  saloons.  At  the  places  where 
the  saloons  were  closed  against  them,  the  devotional 
exercises  were  gone  through  with,  on  the  pavement, 
in  front  of  the  saloon.  Monday  afternoon.  Mother 
Stewart,  of  Springfield,  paid  us  a visit.  In  the  even- 


104 


CRUSADE  AT  MARYSVILLE. 


ing,  she  made  a two  hours’  address,  at  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  was  listened  to  by  a crowded  house.  A 
subscription  was  started  for  the  purpose  of  prosecut- 
ing all  violations  of  the  liquor  laws.  About  six  thou- 
sand dollars  were  subscribed.  On  the  whole,  the 
people  were  terribly  in  earnest. 

While  a committee  of  ladies  was  visitinof  the  saloons, 
with  the  view  of  having  an  understanding  with  the 
keepers,  concerning  their  continuing  to  sell  liquor,  a 
few  young  men,  with  more  impudence  than  brains, 
entered  the  saloon  and  called  for  drinks. 

At  one  of  the  evening  meetings  in  the  hall,  the 
cry  of  Jire  was  raised ; the  audience  became  much 
alarmed,  and  made  a rush  for  the  door.  It  was  soon 
discovered  that  a barn  had  been  set  on  fire  near  the 
depot.  It  was  supposed  to  have  been  set  on  fire  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  meeting.  The  same 
ruse  was  employed  a second  time  during  the  meetings. 

The  druggists  signed  a pledge  wTich  they  prepared 
for  themselves.  On  a Saturday,  a beautiful  day,  the 
ladies  were  out  In  full  force ; one  hundred  and 
seventy-two  in  all.  Large  numbers  of  persons  were 
in  from  the  country  as  silent  spectators  of  the  solemn 
scene.  Many  stout-hearted  men  were  melted  to 
tears,  and  all  expressed  themselves  as  singularly 
affected. 

Not  a word  was  spoken  in  derision  of  the  move- 
ment, nor  w^as  there  a smile  to  be  seen  on  the  coun- 
tenance of  any  one.  It  was  a wonderful  work. 

The  last  week  in  February,  1874,  was  the  memor- 
able week  in  the  history  of  Marysville.  It  will  be 


CRUSADE  AT  FINDLEY.  IO5 

remembered  as  the  week  when  every  saloon  in  the 
place  was  closed. 

Photographs,  cabinet-size,  of  the  ladies’  prayer- 
meeting in  front  of  the  “ City  Beer  Saloon,”  were 
taken,  and  became  objects  of  historic  interest. 

Monday  evening,  March  the  2d,  our  citizens,  to  the 
number  of  about  three  hundred,  met  at  Mr.  Peter 
Baugh’s  residence,  and  took  supper  with  him.  Peter 
was  among  the  first  to  yield  to  the  wishes  of  the  ladies. 
He  sacrificed  all  his  liquors,  by  spilling  them  out  on 
the  ground;  then  tore  out  his  saloon-fixtures,  cleaned 
up  his  room,  and  spread  a table  capable  of  seating 
eighty  persons  at  a time. 

It  was  a pleasant  evening,  in  the  way  of  genuine 
enjoyment.  After  supper,  addresses  were  made  by 
Mr.  Stephenson,  Mayor  Kennedy,  Rev.  Mr.  March, 
Dr.  Hamilton,  Mr.  Piper,  and  Mrs.  Woods.  All  re- 
joiced together  that  deliverance  had  come  to  those 
who  were  in  bondage. 

The  supper  given  at  Mr.  Raugh’s  proved  a success. 
The  sum  given  so  cheerfully  and  liberally  amounted 
to  five  hundred  dollars.  The  kindly  feeling  which 
prevailed  convinced  all  that  it  is  better  to  be  ruled  by 
love  than  by  law. 

Reported  by  order  of  the  committee.  E.  J.  March. 

FINDLEY,  OHIO. 

Sarah  A.  Strothers,  writing  of  the  work  in  this 
place,  says ; 

In  the  month  of  February  (about  the  27th)  .the 
great  wave  of  the  temperance  revival,  now  known  as 


Io6  CRUSADE  AT  FINDLEY. 

“The  Crusade,”  reached  Findley,  Hancock  county, 
Ohio.  A meeting  was  called  to  be  held  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  where  the  wonderful  events  that  had, 
and  were  transpiring,  at  Hillsboro’,  and  Washington 
Court-House,  were  talked  over,  until  the  people  were 
enthused  to  such  a degree,  that,  for  the  time  being, 
all  other  things  seemed  void  of  interest. 

The  great  incubus  of  intemperance  that  was  crush- 
ing us  socially,  and  as  a nation,  was  about  to  be  over- 
thrown, by  the  great  lever  of  faith — Faith  in  God.  It 
was  claimed  that  at  this  day  He  would  hear  and  answer 
the  supplications  of  His  children,  as  He  did  in  other 
years,  when  He  brought  them  out  of  the  land  of  bond- 
age. The  people  assembled  every  day  for  two  weeks. 
The  church  was  crowded.  All  were  anxious  that  the 
women  should  go  out  as  their  sisters  were  going  in 
other  places. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  March,  the  work  of 
organization  commenced.  A president  and  two  vice- 
presidents,  and  other  officers  were  chosen.  One  of 
the  ministers  present  suggested  that  consecration  was 
necessary  before  we  could  work  effectively.  . All 
seemed  to  feel  that  this  was  indeed  needed,  and  for 
two  weeks  longer  we  met  daily  in  the  church  for 
prayer. 

The  interest  increased.  Crowds  came  from  our 
county,  and  from  towns  and  cities  of  the  country  ad- 
jacent to  these  meetings.  The  baptism  of  power 
came  upon  us.  We  then  sent  committees  to  the 
saloons,  to  ask  the  dealers  to  cease  their  work  of 
death ; and  to  say  that  if  they  did  not  abandon  the 


CRUSADE  AT  FINDLEY.  IO7 

traffic,  prayer-meetings  would  be  held  in  their  places 
of  business.  There  were  thirty-  two  retail  and  one 
wholesale  liquor  store,  in  our  village  of  four  thousand 
inhabitants.  Although  evidently  much  disturbed,  not 
one  of  them  would  promise  to  give  up  the  traffic, 
claiming  that  there  was  too  much  money  in  it ; that 
the  government  was  kept  up  by  the  revenue  derived 
from  the  traffic  in  intoxicants.  To  be  told  this  by  a 
foreigner  was  enough  to  make  every  American  blush 
for  his  country. 

When  the  committees  returned,  the  church  was 
filled  with  women  bowed  in  prayer ; and,  as  one  ex- 
pressed it,  the  very  atmosphere  seemed  to  be  filled  with 
the  Spirit.  They  had  been  blessed  as  were  the  disci- 
ples of  old,  with  a Pentecostal  baptism. 

All  denominational  lines  were  gone,  and  they 
were  as  the  Saviour  prayed  that  his  followers  might 
be,  one  in  Him.  The  leader  of  the  band  went  to  the 
front  of  the  church  to  make  the  report.  She  said: 
“ My  sisters — We  have  met  with  a defeat  equal  to 
that  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  at  Bull  Run.  Let 
us  once  more  bow  before  God,  and  ask  for  direction 
and  strength  for  the  contest  that  is  evidently  before 
us.”  We  then  signed  the  pledge  to  work  until  the 
victory  was  won,  or  till  death  should  release  us. 

At  the  evening-meeting,  held  in  the  court-house, 
many  of  the  dealers  were  present,  and  so  learned  that 
on  the  morrow  we  would  move  upon  their  works, 
armed  with  the  weapons  of  Christian  warfare — Love 
and  Faith,  backed  by  the  power  of  Almighty  God. 

At  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning  the  church  was  filled 


T08  crusade  at  FINDLEY, 

with  persons  anxious  to  take  part  in  the  work,  or  to 
see  what  was  oroinor  to  be  done.  After  devotional 

<:r>  o 

exercises,  the  men  present  pledged  themselves  to  aid 
by  their  prayers,  their  means,  and  influence,  until  the 
work  was  accomplished.  The  leader  now  requested 
all  who  were  willing,  and  felt  moved  by  the  Spirit  to 
go  out,  to  rise.  Two  hundred  and  twenty  signified 
their  willingness  to  ^o.  ■ We  then  had  a few  minutes’ 

o o 

silent  prayer,  after  which  we  formed  a procession. 
The  leader  then  said : “ My  sisters,  w^e  are  going  forth 
in  the  strength,  in  the  spirit  of  our  Master,  to  follow 
Him  in  trying  to  save  men,  and  it  may  be  going  even 
to  death.  Let  us  all  feel  that,  following  Christ,  all  will 
be  well.  Let  us  leave  all  in  His  hands — life,  friends, 
reputation — all  that  is  dear  to  us,  in  His  hands.” 
Persons  were  stationed  in  the  Protestant  churches  to 
rinor  the  bells  as  soon  as  the  M.  E.  Church  bell  would 
rinu.  As  we  walked  two  and  two  out  of  the  church 

o 

five  bells  commenced  ringing.  The  streets  Avere 
crowded  with  men  and  boys,  all  excited  over  the 
strange  scene.  It  was,  indeed,  like  a great  funeral 
procession. 

The  first  place  we  visited  the  proprietors  had  closed 
the  doors  and  fled.  We  sang  ‘All  hail  the  power  of 
Jesus’  name,”  and  offered  two  prayers.  A man,  in 
giving  his  experience  afterwards,  said  that  that  prayer 
and  hymn  were  the  means  of  his  conversion. 

The  third  place  we  visited  was  kept  by  a wounded 
soldier.  He  had  once  known  the  Saviour.  As  we 
sang  he  wept,  and  knelt  when  we  prayed.  All  the 
time  we  were  out  those  who  remained  at  the  church 


CRUSADE  AT  FINDLEY. 


109 


were  praying.  At  the  close  of  each  prayer,  the  bell 
would  be  rung,  thus  notifying  us  that  they  were  hold- 
ing us  up  by  their  faith. 

The  next  place  we  visited  was  a billiard  saloon.  As 
we  filed  into  the  room  the  players  were  startled ; they 
were  not  looking  for  us.  One  woman  exclaimed : 
“ Merciful  heaven,  this  is  the  gilded  hell  that  is  de- 
stroying my  sons  !”  The  owner  said : “We  never  sell 
anything  that  will  intoxicate.”  Another  mother  present 
answered:  “I  don’t  see  how  that  can  be;  my  boys 
come  in  here  sober,  and  I have  to  help  them  home — 
they  are  too  drunk  to  take  care  of  themselves.”  He 
was  now  becoming  angry,  and  a sister,  standing  with 
her  hand  on  the  billiard  table,  said ; “ Let  us  pray.” 
She  prayed  that  his  little  son  might  never  have  the 
temptations  to  evil  that  he  was  offering  to  her  children; 
that  the  father  might  become  a Christian  ere  his  boy 
would  know  anything  of  his  life.  The  pledge  was 
then  presented.  He  said  he  would  not  sign  it  till  the 
Day  of  Judgment.  He,  however,  came  to  the  church 
in  the  morning,  and  not  only  signed  the  pledge  but 
asked  us  to  pour  his  liquor  into  the  street.  Oh ! the 
crowds  that  came  to  witness  the  funeral  of  the  vicious 
compound.  We  had  a very  joyous  time;  God  was 
with  us  in  great  power.  Several  of  the  dealers  gave 
up  the  business,  and  the  five  bells  were  rung,  and 
great  rejoicing  was  heard  all  over  the  town.  At  one 
saloon  a sister  was  asked  to  lead  in  prayer ; she  was 
a shouting  Methodist,  and  she  rejoiced  with  a loud 
voice,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  beer  vender. 

At  one  place  we  were  in  the  habit  of  singing  “Come 


I lO 


CRUSADE  AT  FINDLEY. 


to  Jesus,”  and  “Rock  of  ages.”  An  old  German  was 
much  disturbed  by  this.  “What  did  des  Rock  of  ages 
mean  ? ” he  said.  “ He  dakes  mine  shleep  all  de  night. 
I durns  over,  I hear  Rock  of  ages,  and  den  I hears 
Come  to  fes2(s,  all  de  time ; vat  does  it  mean  ?” 

A man,  a German,  was  in  his  place  one  day;  a boy, 
whose  mother  was  a Crusader,  was  standing  by  the 
stove.  He  did  not  observe  the  boy,  but  said  to  the 
man,  “ Come  now,  haf  a glass  of  peer,  dem  vemens 
will  not  drouble  me  any  more  already.  I dalked  so 
cross  dey  will  not  comes  agin.”  The  beer  was  poured 
out,  but  just  as  the  man  was  raising  it  to  his  mouth, 
“Rock  of  ages”  sounded  through  the  air,  sung  by  a 
hundred  voices.  “Quick,  shut  the  door!  mine  Got, 
dis  dem  vemens  agin.” 

Most  of  the  places  we  visited  we  held  our  meeting 
inside,  but  the  wholesale  dealers  would  riot  suffer  us 
to  come  inside.  One  or  two  would  go  in  to  talk  with 
the  proprietors.  When  the  door  was  opened  one 
morning,  five  or  six  slipped  in  and  commenced  pray- 
ing. Oh ! what  a meeting  we  had — one  good  short 
inside  meeting,  and  a large  one  outside.  We  then 
commenced  picketing  saloons ; some  rich  scenes  trans- 
pired in  this  work.  After  w'e  had  enough  evidence 
accumulated  (we  had  the  McConnelsvile  ordinance) 
we  concluded  to  try  the  law.  We  had  an  old  German 
arrested  and  tried  ; he  luas  sentenced  to  fine  and  im- 
prisonment. The  Germans  banded  together,  and  took 
him  out  of  the  prison,  and  there  seemed  no  help  but 
to  submit  to  a lawless  mob.” 

What  a confession  ! A few  Ger7na7i  dealers  defy 


CRUSADE  AT  JAMESTOWN. 


I I I 


public  sejitiment  and  override  the  decrees  of  the  court. 
And  American  men,  who  outnumber  them  ten  to  one, 
submit  to  this  lawlessness  and  insult,  and  allow  the 
triumph  of  vice  . over  virtue  ; mob  over  the  law. 

JAMESTOWN,  OHIO. 

Reported  by  Mattie  B.  Long. 

In  the  early  part  of  February,  1874,  the  citizens  of 
Jamestown,  Ohio,  met  at  Christian  Church  of  that 
place;  the  object  of  the  meeting  being  to  organize  a 
band  to  go  in  the  streets,  into  saloons,  or  wherever  a 
war  might  be  waged  against  the  liquor  traffic.  After 
prayer  by  one  of  the  ministers  present,  and  some 
remarks  upon  the  necessity  of  the  work  now  about  to 
be  engaged  in,  a league  was  promptly  organized,  with 
Mrs.  Mattie  B.  Long  as  president,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Davis  vice-president,  and  Mrs.  LI.  R.  Brown  secretary. 

A spirit  of  enthusiasm  pervaded  all  classes.  The 
pastors  of  the  three  churches  entered  heartily  into  the 
work,  and  were,  as  well  as  other  Christian  men,  very 
valuable  allies  in  the  warfare.  While  the  women  went 
forth  weeping,  trembling,  praying,  these  men  remained 
in  the  church  praying  for  their  success  in  the  work 
until  they  returned  and  reported. 

A band  of  about  fifty  ladies  went  forth,  visiting  first 
the  only  drug  store  in  the  village,  where  they  were 
kindly  received.  The  president  asked  permission  to 
have  prayer,  when  an  earnest,  eloquent  petition  was 
offered  by  Mrs.  Mary  Perryman,  the  first  prayer, 
perhaps,  that  had  ever  as^nded  to  heaven  from  a 
place  where  ardent  spirits  were  sold  as  a beverage  in 


I 12 


CRUSADE  AT  MOUNT  VERNON. 


this  town.  , This  drug  store  and  two  saloons  were  the 
only  places  in  the  village  where  liquors  were  sold. 

These  places  were  visited  daily  for  a week  or  more 
before  either  of  the  proprietors  agreed  to  desist ; one 
saloon-keeper  finally  yielded.  Then  the  druggist,  and 
then  the  other saloonist  “unconditionally  surrendered,” 
and  gave  permission  for  his  premises  to  be  searched. 
All  his  liquors  were  given  to  mother  earth  to  drink. 
So  that  in  the  space  of  three  weeks  our  village  was 
for  the  time  freed  from  the  curse. 

The  experience  of  all  engaged  in  the  work  was 
that,  while  laboring  for  the  good  of  others,  their  own 
souls  had  been  greatly  blessed. 

MOUNT  VERNON,  OHIO. 

Mount  Vernon,  with  a population  of  6,000,  had 
thirty-one  saloons. 

The  Crusade  work  commenced  the  i6th  of  Feb- 
ruary; in  the  short  space  of  twelve  days  of  prayer 
and  persuasion,  twenty-three  saloons  closed  their 
doors,  and  the  saloonists  agreed  never  to  enter  into 
the  business  again.  The  Catholic  priest  expressed 
his  sympathy  with  the  movement,  and  organized  a 
society  in  his  own  communion. 

Mrs.  E.  A.  Wright  wrote,  April  2d,  1874:  Our 
success  up  to  the  present  time  has  far  exceeded  the 
expectations  of  the  most  sanguine;  out  of  twenty-two 
places  where  intoxicating  drinks  were  publicly  sold, 
only  six  remain,  and  those  doing  but  little.  A great 
chano-e  has  been  wrought  in  the  outside  element.  If 

o o 

a popular  vote  had  been  taken  the  first  day  of  the 


CRUSADE  AT  MOUNT  VERNON.  1 1 3 

Crusade,  whedier  we  should  retire  from  the  streets,  or 
continue  with  our  prayers,  we  would  have  been  obliged 
to  disperse;  to-day,  thank  God,  so  great  is  the  change 
that  nine-tenths  of  the  people  bid  us  God-speed  in  our 
work,  and  would  regard  it  as  a public  calamity,  should 
we  cease  our  efforts.  Men  who  hitherto  had  been 
enslaved  have,  like  true  men,  come  up  and  with 
trembling  hands  signed  the  pledge,  that  they  might 
be  free,  while  their  tear-dimmed  eyes  spoke  the  grati- 
tude that  welled  up  from  their  hearts. 

Surely  God  is  with  us : he  will  not  fail  us,  but  his 
work,  like  a mighty  wave,  will  continue  to  increase 
in  volume  and  power  until  its  boundaries  shall  only  be 
determined  where  the  love  of  mother,  wife  and  sister 
cease  to  exist ; where  such  love  dwells,  there  shall  the 
standard  of  temperance  be  uplifted ; not  only  uplifted, 
but  sustained.  We  may  not  live  to  see  the  glorious 
consummation  of  this  work,  but  I believe  in  God’s 
own  time  this  evil  shall  cease  to  be  in  our  midst. 

A very  stringent  ordinance  passed  by  the  city 
council  has  awakened  terrible  fears  in  the  minds  of 
those  who  still  continue  the  traffic,  ordinances  covering 
so  much  ground,  that  they  will  be  obliged  to  surrender, 
if  not  from  principle,  from  loss  of  profit.  The  council 
stand  nine  to  one  (a  saloonist)  in  favor  of  temperance. 

Let  us  educate  our  daughters  to  fill  up  the  ranks 
when  we  fall,  looking  always  to  God  for  support,  going 
forth  in  His  fear,  with  His  love  in  our  hearts,  to  do 
battle  against  this  awful  enemy  of  mankind,  being 
determined  that  not  until  the  last  rum-hole  is  closed, 
will  we  rest.” 

8 


I 1 4 CRUSADE  AT  MOUNT  VERNON. 

On  the  2 1 St  of  February,  Mr.  McFeely,  who  kept 
the  finest  restaurant  and  billiard  hall  in  southern  Ohio, 
made  a full  surrender.  After  rejoicing  over  this  great 
victory,  the  women  proceeded  through  the  rain  to  the 
Commercial  Hotel,  where  they  found  the  white  flag, 
the  symbol  of  surrender,  lianging  out.  After  holy 
praise  to  God,  Mr.  McFeely  and  the  proprietor  of  the 
Bergen  House  (which  had  surrendered  a few  days 
before)  invited  them  to  dinner,  while  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  livery-stables  sent  hacks  and  omnibuses  to 
convey  them  to  their  homes.  This  generous  courtesy 
of  those  who  had  given  up  their  business  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  women  was  a token  of  the  kindly 
feeling  existing  between  the  parties.  After  Mr. 
McFeely  gave  up  the  traffic,  he  had  an  elegant  motto 
put  up  in  his  dining-hall,  inscribed  with  the  sentiment; 
“God  bless  our  noble  women.”  A reporter  shortly 
afterwards  visited  him,  and  gives  the  following  in- 
teresting account  of  the  interview: 

“With  some  curiosity  as  to  what  the  late  liquor- 
sellers  thouo'ht  of  the  movement  and  its  effects,  I went 

o 

to  a billiard-room  w'hich,  when  I was  here  before,  was 
the  most  popular  drinking-place  in  town,  being 
crowded  every  night  with  young  men  who  rank  high 
in  Mount  Vernon  society.  The  proprietor,  an  Irish- 
man, with  the  physique  of  a trained  prize-fighter,  had 
told  me  that  ‘ the  thing  would  never  work  in  Mount 
Vernon,’  and  that  ‘they’  (meaning  the  ladies)  ‘had 
better  not  try  it  on.’  I now  found  him  in  a much 
more  tranquil  state  of  mind,  as  he  stood  dispensing 
lemonade  and  soda  to  old  topers,  who  have  now  to  be 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN. 


II5 


content  with  such  mild  substitutes  for  the  old-fashioned 
toddies  and  punches.  ‘ How  do  you  feel  after  your 
surrender?’  I asked.  ‘Never  better — never  so  well 
— in  my  life,’  was  the  prompt  reply.  ‘I  don’t  know 
anything  about  getting  religion,  but  a fellow  who  has 
just  been  converted  must  feel  something  like  I have 
felt  for  the  last  week.  I actually  enjoy  going  to 
church.  Somehow  or  other  everything  looks  brighter. 
The  best  day’s  work  I ever  did  was  hanging  out  the 
white  flag  on  my  saloon.’  ‘ But  you  will  go  into  the 
old  business  ao^ain  when  this  excitement  dies  out?’ 

o 

‘ Not  if  I know  myself.  I wouldn’t  be  able  to  hold 
my  head  up  if  I did ; I couldn’t  look  a lady  straight  in 
the  face.  No,  sir,  I don’t  know  what’s  come  over  me, 
but  whiskey-selling  don’t  appear  to  me  now  as  it  used 
to.  Besides,  everybody  seems  to  look  on  me  so 
different  now.  The  very  men  that  used  to  drink  at 
my  bar  think  more  of  me;  and  as  to  the  ladies — why, 
sir,  some  of  the  best  ladies  in  this  town  have  been 
in  my  dining-room  with  their  husbands  to  dinner  since 
I closed  out.’  I could  hardly  realize  that  I was  talking 
to  the  man  who  a few  days  ago  had,  with  angry  tone 
and  defiant  eye,  wished  the  ladies  to  ‘ try  it  on,’  and 
who  over  this  same  counter  tried  to  induce  me  to  take 
something  in  the  way  of  cold-weather  alcoholic  drinks.” 

WARREN,  OHIO. 

A Woman’s  Temperance  organization  was  effected 
in  Warren,  February  28th,  1874. 

We  are  indebted  to  a writer  in  the  Mornings  for  the 
following  facts  connected  with  the  work  there : 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN. 


1 16 

At  the  beginning  of  the  work,  the  following  pledge 
was  circulated : 

“We,  the  women  of  Warren,  pledge  ourselves  to 
use  every  effort  in  our  power,  (giving  our  presence, 
time,  prayers  and  influence,)  towards  the  suppression 
and  total  overthrow  of  the  liquor  traffic  in  our  midst, 
and  that  we  will  never  cease  to  labor  and  pray  until 
the  work  is  accomplished.” 

This  pledge  was  afterwards  circulated  throughout 
the  city,  and  signed  by  500  women. 

Pledges  for  different  classes  of  persons  were  pre- 
pared and  extensively  circulated.  Our  druggists  were 
induced  to  sign  the  “ Iron-Clad,”  especially  drawn  for 
them.  Prayer-meetings  were  held  twice  a day. 
March  loth,  1874. — A mass-meeting  was  held  at  the 
Disciples’  Church,  conducted  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolton, 
of  Cleveland.  The  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed  at 
this  meeting.  After  the  church  was  filled,  the  crowd 
outside  was  so  great,  that  an  overflow  meeting  was 
held  at  the  court-house.  The  speakers  addressed’ 
both  audiences.  A citizens’  pledge  was  circulated  and 
signed  by  hundreds.  The  influence  of  that  meeting 
pervaded  every  portion  of  our  city.  Even  the  enemy 
could  no  longer  be  restrained,  but  came  out  boldly 
the  next  day  in  the  form  of  two  men  mounted  on  a 
cask  of  beer,  drawn  by  horses  through  our  streets, 
drinking  and  dealing  out  liquor  to  all.  The  next  day 
at  the  prayer-meetings  all  felt  that  7iow  was  the  time 
to  begin  our  warfare  on  intemperance,  and  that  the 
enemy  must  be  met  on  his  own  ground.  So  the  first 
band  of  women,  numbering  170,  armed  with  God’s 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN. 


II7 

own  peculiar  weapons,  singing  and  prayer,  went  out 
from  the  Disciples’  Church  on  Wednesday  afternoon, 
March  iith,  1874.  We  visited  several  saloons.  At 
some  places  we  were  admitted,  at  others  not.  We 
went  forth  in  bands  day  by  day  for  weeks,  into  these 
places  of  sin  and  degradation,  carrying  the  love  of 
Jesus  in  our  hearts,  praying  and  urging  those  men  to 
give  up  their  unlawful  business.  Prayer-meetings 
were  held  daily  the  first  six  months ; the  next  six,  three 
times  a week ; the  last  year,  and  at  the  present  time, 
once  a week,  on  Thursday  afternoons.  Open  aii 
meetings  have  been  held  Sunday  afternoons,  when- 
ever the  weather  would  permit.  On  the  4th  of  April, 
1874,  a very  large  mass-meeting  was  held;  the  audi- 
ence was  addressed  by  four  of  our  District  Judges, 
Messrs,  Freese,  Conant,  Canfield,  and  Glidden.  April 
6th,  Election  day,  was  a day  of  great  interest ; the 
McConnelsville  Ordinance  was  voted  upon,  a prayer 
meeting  was  held  from  seven  o’clock  in  the  morning 
until  six  in  the  evening,  the  ladies  going  to  the  polls 
in  all  the  wards,  and  using  their  influence  for  the 
Ordinance  in  every  possible  way.  It  was  carried  by 
a small  majority. 

July  4th. — A temperance  celebration  was  held  and 
largely  attended.  July  14th. — A county  convention 
was  held  in  Warren,  to  inaugurate  plans  for  can- 
vassing the  county  in  the  interests  of  anti-License, 
preparatory  to  the  election  on  the  i8th  of  August. 
December  i8th,  1874,  the  temperance  women  of 
Trumbull  county  met  at  Warren  and  organized  a 
County  League.  This  League  meets  quarterly  and  is 


I 1 8 CRUSADE  AT  STEUBENVILLE. 

in  good  working  order,  the  interest  growing  deeper 
and  broader  until  nearly  every  township  in  the  county 
has  organized  a League.  January  28th,  1875,  ^ Soup 
House  was  established  under  the  supervision  of  the 
ladies.  April  5th,  1875,  the  young  ladies  of  Warren 
organized  a “Young  Ladies’  Temperance  League.” 
A Constitution  and  By-laws  were  drawn  up  and  signed 
by  eighty-five  members.  Through  their  efforts  a Free 
Reading-Room  has  been  established  in  a good  loca- 
tion, attractive  and  comfortably  furnished.  It  has  a 
library  of  200  volumes,  magazines,  periodicals,  and  a 
large  number  of  daily  and  weekly  papers.  We  feel 
that  by  these  means  many  have  been  drawn  away 
from  saloons  and  other  bad  places.  May  6th,  1875, 
the  League  made  application  to  the  editors  of  the 
Western  Reserve  Chronicle  for  a space  in  their  paper 
to  be  devoted  to  the  interests  -of  temperance,  and  to 
be  edited  by  the  League.  The  request  was  kindly 
granted,  and  a column  has  been  filled  from  week  to 
week  with  temperance  matter. 

September  25th,  1 875,  a Boys’  and  Girls’  Temperance 
Society  was  organized,  consisting  of  175  members. 
The  question  would  so  often  come  up,  “Am  I doing 
all  I can  to  save  the  boys,  my  own,  my  neighbors’  sons, 
those  who  in  the  years  to  come  will  be  our  glory,  or 
our  shame?” 


STEUBENVILLE,  OHIO. 

When  the  Crusade  commenced  in  Steubenville  there 
were  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  saloons  and  liquor 
stores.  Twenty-five  of  these  were  closed  by  the  Cru- 


CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN.  I IQ 

sade.  An  ordinance,  which  became  effective  April, 
1874,  growing  out  of  the  Crusade,  closed  forty  more. 

The  friends  of  temperance  and  good  order  were 
hopeful,  and  the  prospects  were  bright.  But  in  the 
midst  of  their  work  there  was  a “ Personal  Liberty  ” 
club  formed,  the  object  being  to  obtain  the  drink  in 
defiance  of  law.  This  action  gave  the  saloon-keepers 
new  courage,  and  some  of  the  saloons  were  reopened, 
and  the  traffic  was  carried  on  in  defiance  of  law.  This 
cry  of  “ Personal  Liberty,”  has  bewildered  many. 
There  is  no  such  thing  as  personal  liberty  except 
amonof  savages. 

The  reader  will  find  this  subject  fully  discussed  in 
another  chapter  of  this  book. 

YOUNGSTOWN,  OHIO. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mary  G.  Moore  for  the  follow- 
ing statement  of  work : 

In  the  winter  of  1873  and  ’74  strange  reports 
reached  us,  from  central  and  southern  Ohio,  of  how 
women,  moved  by  a horror  of  the  liquor  trade,  were 
organizing  themselves  into  companies,  and  seeking  the 
men  engaged  in  liquor-selling  at  their  places  of  busi- 
ness, and  by  prayer  and  entreaty  trying  to  persuade 
them  to  quit  it. 

The  first  newspaper  reports  were  read  with  a 
mixture  of  astonishment  and  incredulity.  It  could  not 
be  true.  But  they  were  soon  verified.  Then  came 
speculations  as  to  what  kind  of  persons  these  women 
were.  Fanatics  surely,  or  women  driven  to  despera- 
tion by  drunkards.  But  no  ; the  word  came  that  they 


I 20 


CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN. 


were  generally  persons  of  moderation  and  refinement, 
who  were  actuated  by  a single  noble  purpose  to  do 
something  to  stop  drinking.  Then  the  results  were 
noted,  and  the  progress  of  the  work  was  watched  with 
hourly  increasing  interest. 

Pretty  soon  the  question  commenced  to  be  whis- 
pered as  it  came  eastward;  What  if  it  should  come  here? 
As  if  it  were  not  here  already,  and  all  the  time ; the 
iniquity  and  wretchedness  on  the  one  hand,  and  sym- 
pathy and  Christian  zeal  on  the  other,  the  latter  only 
waiting  to  be  kindled  into  a flame  by  a spark  from  that 
consecrated  fire  that  lio-hted  at  first  the  Woman’s  Cru- 

o 

sade.  Finally,  one  said  to  another,  “ Let  us  meet  and 
pray ; ” and  early  in  March,  a Woman’s  Temperance 
Prayer-Meeting  was  started,  which  has  never  been 
discontinued  to  the  present.  It  was  at  first  held  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  for  the  sake  of  con- 
venience, it  was  soon  removed  to  the  First  Baptist 
Church.  This  was  held  daily  in  the  morning  hours,  and 
daily  increased  in  numbers,  until  hundreds  came. 
Gradually  it  assumed  the  character  of  a conference 
meetinor  in  connection  with  the  more  solemn  service 

o 

of  prayer.  Scores  came  to  pray  and  hear  the  discus- 
sions, and  commit  themselves  personally  to  temperance, 
who  declared  they  never  could  and  never  would  go  into 
the  streets  to  work.  But  many  of  these,  in  the  after 
days,  might  be  seen  kneeling  on  the  sidewalks  in  the 
immediate  presence  of  the  public ; this  only  illustrates 
how  we  chang-e  our  mind. 

A Woman’s  League  was  at  once  organized,  with  a 
membership  of  over  four  hundred,  and  by  its  influence. 


CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN. 


I 21 


a League  of  the  men  was  formed  to  co-operate  with  the 
former.  A common  inference  from  this  action  was  that 
the  women  might  pray,  and  the  men  would  vote.  The 
Woman’s  League  was  based  on  the  one  condition,  of 
taking  a simple  abstinence  pledge  from  all  intoxicants 
as  a beverage. 

The  first  public  work,  was  the  canvass  of  the  town 
with  the  property-holders’  pledge.  This  was  largely 
successful  at  the  time,  and  it  holds  yet,  the  majority 
who  signed  it.  The  most  flagrant  violators  of  it,  are, 
in  some  instances,  conspicuous  members  of  society  here, 
and  in  other  cities,  holding  property  here.  When  a 
pledge  was  circulated  among  druggists  and  physicians, 
this  carried  to  a considerable  extent  also  ; but  what 
was  said  of  the  other  pledge,  may  be  repeated  of  this. 

Prominent  practitioners  and  dealers  set  the  example 
of  breaking  over.  Finally,  after  a fortnight  of  meet- 
ings, it  was  resolved  to  attack  the  enemy  on  his  own 
ground.  The  forces  were  mustered,  and,  be  it  said  to 
the  credit  of  woman,  very  few  desertions  were  recorded. 
A very  small  number  made  excuse  “ their  husbands 
would  not  let  them,”  but  as  a rule  the  husbands  and 
fathers  and  brothers,  the  men,  nobly  seconded  the 
women.  The  meetings  were  presided  over  and  the 
Crusade  led  by  Mrs.  Ashley,  the  wife  of  the  Baptist 
minister,  then  of  our  city,  a woman  eminently  qualified 
by  nature  and  education  for  such  an  undertaking,  for 
she  had  not  only  the  courage  and  culture,  but  the 
Christian  zeal  that  would  prosecute  such  a work  with 
steady  enthusiasm  after  the  effervescence  of  popular 
excitement  had  disappeared. 


122 


CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN. 


Day  after  day,  and  week  after  week,  the  women,  in 
numbers  ranging  from  fifty  up  into  the  hundreds,  con- 
vened at  the  Baptist  Church,  where,  after  an  hour  spent 
in  prayer  and  conference,  they  would  form  into  com- 
panies of  twenty,  or  thirty  each,  and  taking  different 
wards  or  streets,  go  from  door  to  door  of  the  saloons, 
and,  where  admittance  was  granted,  by  religious  ser- 
vices and  personal  entreaty  try  to  effect  a change. 
Where  they  were  not  permitted  to  enter,  services  were 
held  on  the  outside.  This  was  quite  common  at  first, 
but  very  few  persisted  in  closing  their  doors  to  the  end. 
And  here  the  Crusaders  counted  a gain,  for  many  had 
declared  with  blasphemous  oaths  that  no  meddlesome 
women  should  get  into  their  establishments,  who  finally, 
with  civility  if  not  courtesy,  invited  them  to  enter. 
Places  never  before  trodden  by  women,  whose  walls 
had  echoed  nothing  but  the  language  of  bar-rooms  for 
years,  now  resounded  to  the  music  of  Gospel  hymns, 
and  Scripture  lessons,  and  fervent  prayers.  Who 
shall  say  this  was  seed,  that,  though  seemingly  unpro- 
ductive at  the  time,  in  the  majority  of  cases  may  not 
yet  bear  fruit?  And  so  the  Crusade  went  on  for  about 
six  weeks,  and  thirty-five  saloons  were  closed — not 
particularly  eventful  from  first  to  last.  There  was  at 
once  an  absence  of  boisterous  enthusiasm,  and  riotous 
opposition.  Many  of  those  who  yielded,  did  It  without 
ringing  of  bells  and  firing  of  guns,  and  those  who  held 
out,  never  countenanced  the  mob.  Of  course,  the 
thirty-five  that  succumbed,  were  only  a drop  in  the  bucket 
to  the  number  who  kept  on  in  the  work.  In  a popula- 
tion of  about  twelve  thousand,  we  had  nearly  four 


CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN. 


123 


hundred  saloons,  and  we  probably  have  pretty  nearly 
that  number  yet;  but  as  one — not  a pronounced  tem- 
perance man  by  any  means — remarked  the  other  day, 
there  is  not  the  money  in  them  that  there  used  to  be. 

So,  in  estimating  the  Crusade,  we  should  consider 
it  as  formative,  and  developing  in  its  results,  rather 
than  defined  and  immediate,  although  whiskey  neither 
surrendered  of  itself,  nor  was  vanquished  by  legisla- 
tion, yet  drinking  in  saloons  is  much  less  popular  and 
general  than  it  used  to  be.  Somehow,  they  say,  since 
1874,  it  has  constantly  been  growing  unfashionable. 
As  for  the  men  who  closed  out  the  business  then,  it  is 
believed  the  major  part  have  kept  their  promise.  One 
of  the  men  is  on  our  police  force,  three  are  respectable 
temperance  grocers,  and  others  are  doing  honest  labor 
in  our  mills  aud  factories.  Indeed,  there  are  only  two 
■or  three  cases  of  returning  to  the  business. 

But,  as  the  labor  of  the  Crusade  seemed  about  ac- 
complished, or,  at  any  rate,  as  if  no  more  good  could 
be  done  by  visiting  saloons,  the  ladies  cast  about  them 
for  something  else ; And  here  I might  set  down  what 
we,  in  Youngstown,  have  ever  regarded  as  one  of  the 
first  and  most  beneficial  fruits  of  the  Crusade,  namely, 
what  it  did  for  the  women  themselves.  It  quickened 
their  energies ; strengthened  their  courage ; in  short, 
educated  them,  and  at  the  same  time  opened  up  a 
field  and  showed  them  the  harvest. 

We  had  long  known  the  need  of  a free  reading- 
room,  and  the  ladies  felt  it  pressing  more  and  more, 
as  the  boys  and  young  men,  and  many  middle-aged 
men  pledged  themselves  away  from  those  haunts  of 


124  CRUSADE  AT  YOUNGSTOWN. 

amusement  and  temptation,  which  have  cursed  our 
town  pre-eminently,  in  the  last  dozen  years. 

They  resolved  to  open  one,  and  run  it  for  the  bene- 
fit of  those  who  would  forego  the  dram-shop  for  the 
daily  newspapers,  and  fresh  magazines,  a bright  fire, 
pictures,  flowers,  a standard  cyclopedia  for  reference, 
etc.  But  in  1874,  places  were  scarce,  and  rents  high; 
so,  after  much  discussion,  they  concluded  to  build. 

This,  for  us,  by  the  way,  in  a manufacturing  town 
where  iron  is  the  staple,  pushed  sorely  by  the  hard 
times,  was  no  little  undertaking.  And  then  the  burden 
was  borne  by  a handful.  The  League,  by  no  means 
as  a body,  indorsed  the  enterprise  of  a reading-room. 
Most  of  the  members  said.  Wait;  the  times  are  too 
hard  ; money  is  scarce  ; wait,  wait.  But  they  did  not 
wait. 

A liberal  orentleman  offered  them  the  orround-rent 

o . o 

free  for  ten  years  of  a most  eligible  location,  upon 
which  they  immediately  commenced  the  erection  of  a 
building,  worth,  at  the  lowest  estimate,  twenty-five  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  is  a two-story  house,  with  a com- 
modious room  on  the  ground  for  a reading-room,  and 
a business  room  adjoining;  above,  a large  temperance 
hall,  occupied  by  the  Good  Templars  and  other  so- 
cieties ; and  two  other  rooms  adjoining,  suitable  for 
offices.  This  buildino’  in  due  time  was  finished,  fur- 

O 

nished,  and  dedicated,  and  has  been  run  at  an  annual 
expense  of  about  four  hundred  dollars. 

So  far  it  meets  the  demands  made  upon  it,  and 
seems  to  answer  the  purpose  of  its  design.  It  was  in- 
tended to  be  self-supporting,  and  will  eventually  be 
put  on  that  basis. 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


125 


Since  its  organization,  our  Temperance  League  has 
been  the  almoner  generally,  for  the  different  charities 
of  our  town,  and  very  liberally  has  it  contributed  in 
this  way,  its  own  resources.  Establishing  local  prayer- 
meetings,  visiting  the  poor  and  the  sick,  looking  after 
those  who  do  not  attend  church,  and  the  children 
not  in  school,  and  not  attending  any  Sabbath-school, 
is  the  work  the  League  has  been  prosecuting  all 
alonm 

o 

A Juvenile  Templars’  society  was  organized,  and 
carried  on  for  more  than  a year;  but  during  an  epi- 
demic of  the  scarlet  fever,  it  was  discontinued,  and  has 
not  been  called  since. 

The  Reformed  Men’s  movement  was  inaugurated 

o 

here  last  winter  by  the  Woman’s  League,  and  was 
directed  largely  by  their  labor  and  zeal. 

Thousands  signed  the  pledge  and  tried  to  reform, 
and  though  many  have  broken  it,  many,  very  many 
more,  are  keeping  it,  and  are  better  a thousand  times 
for  it.  And  so  the  work  goes  on,  as  the  world  goes 
on,  little  by  little,  not  always  bright,  not  always  on  the 
crest  of  the  wave,  but  always  advancing. 

ALLIANCE,  OHIO. 

We  heard  reports  of  warfare  waged  by  women 
against  their  common  foe.  The  weapons  of  their  war- 
fare were  not  carnal,  but  spiritual.  There  was  no 
sound  of  cannons’  roar,  or  crash  of  musketry.  No 
glittering  swords  or  bayonets  were  gleaming  in  the 
sun  that  shone  upon  the  rank  and  file  of  soldiery. 

The  sounds  that  came  to  us  as  we  passed  through 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


I 26 

towns,  where  the  enemy’s  forts  were  being  stormed, 
were  those  of  sweet  voices  sinuingf  sacred  sonus,  and 
breathing  fervent  prayers. 

That  new  strange  army’s  only  sword  was  the 
“ sword  of  the  Spirit,”  and  its  only  shield  the  “ shield 
of  Faith.”  Its  book  of  tactics  was  the  Bible,  and  its 
General  the  Prince  of  Peace.  Wonderful  to  every 
one,  was  the  baptism  of  spiritual  power  that  descended 
upon  the  Christian  women  in  those  days.  And  we 
lifted  up  our  hearts  in  earnest  consecration,  and  re- 
ceived the  power  and  the  commission  for  the  work 
allotted  us. 

Alliance  and  Mount  Union,  distinct  incorporations,  yet 
one  In  situation  (the  latter  being  a college  town  in  which 
no  intoxicants  were  sold),  united  their  temperance 
forces.  And  on  the  third  of  March  was  inaugurated 
among  us  the  new  Crusade,  so  different  in  every  way 
from  the  Crusade  of  the  olden  times.  Then  Crusa- 
ders carried  red  crosses  on  their  breasts,  insignia  of 
their  purpose  to  possess  the  burial-place  of  Christ. 

The  Crusaders  of  the  nineteenth  century,  equally 
loyal  to  the  cross,  labored  not  to  find  the  place  of  the 
sepulchre ; but  realized  that  Christ  had  risen,  and 
labored  to  lift  up  fallen  ones  for  cleansing  In  the  pre- 
cious blood  that  was  shed  for  all  our  sins. 

A brother  called  our  first  meeting,  but  a sister 
presided;  and  in  it  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  wo- 
men “volunteered  for  the  holy  w^ar.”  An  organiza- 
tion was  at  once  effected ; the  list  of  names  in- 
creasing daily,  until  it  numbered  about  five  hum 
dred,  in  a population  of  seven  or  eight  thousand. 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE.  I 2 7 

with  thirty-two  places  where  liquor  was  sold  in  our 
borders. 

Many  of  us  had  never  engaged  in  any  public  work. 
Some  had  never  even  breathed  a vocal  prayer  at  their 
own  family  altars. 

Realizing  fully  that  only  from  Jehovah  sufficient 
strength  could  come,  we  remembered  the  command  of 
the  Master  to  earlier  disciples : “ Tarry  ye  in  the  city 
of  Jerusalem,  until  ye  be  endued  with  power  from  on 
hicrh.”  And  we  tarried  long  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 
Ten  days  we  “waited  on  the  Lord”  to  renew  our 
strength.  Earnestly  we  consecrated  ourselves  to  the 
work  of  turning  back  the  tides  of  iniquity  that  were 
sweeping  our  loved  ones  from  our  hearts  and  homes. 
When  the  command  came  to  us.  Go  out  and  meet  the 
foe,  we  obeyed,  silendy  marching  two  and  two,  in 
solemn  procession,  praying  silently  as  we  went  that 
grace  might  be  bestowed  sufficient  for  that  time  of 
special  need,  and  our  mission  of  mercy  be  crowned 
with  rich  results. 

While  we  went  out  upon  the  streets,  our  husbands 
and  brothers  remained  in  the  hall  to  pray  for  our  suc- 
cess, and  at  the  close  of  every  prayer  the  college-bell 
was  tolled,  and  we  knew  another  petition  was  regis- 
tered in  the  courts  of  heaven  in  behalf  of  the  cause 
we  loved. 

The  pastors  of  nearly  all  our  churches  gave  us 
sympathy  and  co-operation.  Many  of  the  business 
houses  were  closed  during  the  morning  prayer-meet- 
ings for  a time. 

O 

We  held  mass-meetings  nearly  every  evening  for 


128 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


three  months,  which  were  very  largely  attended,  and 
great  enthusiasm  prevailed.  On  Sabbath  evenings, 
many  of  the  churches  held  no  regular  service,  but 
united  in  the  temperance  meetings,  for  several  weeks. 

When  we  visited  saloons,  some  dealers  received  us 
very  kindly,  and  others  locked  their  doors  against  us, 
and  then  we  held  services  on  the  sidewalks,  kneeline 
on  the  cold  stones,  amid  storms  of  rain,  or  snow,  and 
later  beneath  a burnine  sun.  Those  meetines  on  the 
sidewalks  were  attended  by  crowds  of  rough  men 
who  would  not  enter  the  hallowed  precincts  of  a 
chu  rch. 

They  came  to  mock  at  first,  but  often  their  jeers 
were  merged  into  weeping,  and  they  stood  with  uncov- 
ered heads,  to  hear  us  read  from  God’s  own  word,  and 
their  hearts  were  touched  and  tendered.  Thus  we 
were  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  masses,  who  would  not 
come  to  hear  it  in  the  house  of  God.  We  cannot 
attempt,  in  the  brief  space  allotted  us,  to  give  minute 
details  of  our  three  months’  campaign.  Neither  can 
we  speak  personally  of  the  brave  women  who  wrought 
so  nobly.  Some  who  faithfully  performed  the  most 
arduous  duties  of  the  band  held  no  offices.  All  cannot 
be  spoken  of.  Therefore,  knowing  that  consecrated 
women  want  the  Lord  to  have  all  the  glory  of  our  suc- 
cesses, we  mention  not  a name. 

The  press  was  favorable  to  our  work ; all  our 
papers  reporting  it  fairly,  and  advertising  our  meetings 
free  of  charge.  Three  local  papers  gave  space  for 
Temperance  Departments,  that  were  edited  by  mem- 
bers of  our  league.  One  paragraph  so  clearly  shows 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE, 


129 


the  animus  of  all  our  editors  that  we  quote  it  ver- 
batim, from  the  “ Alliance  Local  ” — “It  was  a scene  to 
make  angels  weep.  Amid  the  blinding  fury  of  a fierce 
March  storm,  out  in  the  bitter  cold,  their  fragile  forms 
shivering  and  swaying  before  the  biting  blast,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  of  the  noblest  and  most  highly  accom- 
plished ladies  of  our  city,  kneeling  with  tearful  eyes 
and  pleading  tones,  before  the  door  of  a drinking- 
saloon,  beseeching  the  saloonist  to  cease  the  disreputa- 
ble business. 

“ In  contrast,  there  stands  the  proprietor  barring  their 
entrance  to  his  comfortable  room.  With  scornful  sneers 
he  listens  to  their  touching  plea,  and  with  obdurate 
shake  of  the  head  refuses  their  earnest  prayer.  The 
cold  and  storm  are  too  severe  for  him  to  stand  and 
listen  to  their  arguments,  and  the  door  is  rudely  closed 
in  their  faces,  and  they  left,  kneeling  upon  the  icy 
pavement,  to  plead  in  loving  words  that  God  might 
soften  his  hardened  heart. 

“ The  voice  of  prayer  ceases,  and  the  sweet  tones  of 
a woman’s  voice,  singing  ‘Nearer  my  God  to  Thee,’ 
rises  upon  the  air,  and  swelled  by  the  united  voices 
of  the  entire  company,  is  carried  away  upon  the  wintry 
blast.  And  then  those  loving  hearts,  not  discouraged 
by  their  ungracious  reception,  retraced  their  steps, 
singing  beautiful  hymns,  with  hearts  full  of  prayer 
to  the  God  who  has  commissioned  them  to  go  forth  in 
this  labor  of  love.  This  scene  was  witnessed  in  our 
streets  on  Thursday  last,  and  wrung  tears  from  the 
eyes  of  men  who  were  never  known  to  weep.”  The 
owner  of  the  opera  house  gave  us  the  use  of  a large 
9 


130 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


room  in  that  building  for  our  head-quarters,  for  one 
year,  free  of  rent,  which  was  thankfully  accepted  and 
the  room  formally  dedicated  to  temperance. 

As  time  passed  on  many  methods  were  tested.  At 
first  after  the  prayer-meetings  (which  always  preceded 
street  service),  we  would  form  one  large  band  (some- 
times numbering  over  two  hundred),  and  visit  saloons 
eii  masse.  Again  several  different  bands  were  formed, 
and  various  saloons  visited  simultaneously. 

Sometimes  committees  of  ladies,  in  pairs  or  trios, 
visited  saloons  for  personal  conversation  with  dealers. 

After  a few  visitations  some  of  the  saloonists  sur- 
rendered, hanging  out  a white  flag,  with  “ Uncondi- 
tional Surrender”  printed  on  it.  Then  we  would  go 
in  a band  and  sing  “ Praise  God,  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow,”  at  the  closed  saloon.  Sometimes  the  men 
would  come  to  our  mass-meetings,  and  sign  the  pledge 
prepared  for  dealers,  and  thus  publicly  thank  the  ladies 
for  having-  come  to  them  and  shown  them  the  exceed- 
ing  sinfulness  of  Sin. 

These  successes  greatly  comforted  us,  and  we  took 
fresh  courage  and  went  bravely  forward,  though  often 
much  wearied  and  worn.  One  day  several  saloonists 
told  us  that,  if  a majority  of  our  citizens  were  opposed 
to  their  traffic,  and  w'ould  make  it  known,  they  would 
cease  to  sell  the  odious  liquors.  Acting  on  their 
suggestion,  we  wrote  a petition — a kindly,  earnest 
“Appeal  to  Saloonists” — setting  forth  some  of  the  evil 
effects  of  their  business  in  our  community,  and  asking 
them,  on  behalf  of  our  common  good,  to  cease  to  sell 
intoxicants.  We  then  appointed  committees  of  women, 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


I3I 

who  spent  days  in  visiting  families  and  shops,  and  a 
very  large  number  of  signatures  were  obtained,  cover- 
ing two-thirds  of  the  votei's  of  our  city,  besides  women 
and  minors. 

One  eveninof  we  invited  all  the  dealers  to  come  to 
our  head-quarters.  Many  of  them  came,  and  we  re- 
minded them  of  their  promises,  and  presented  our 
petitions.  They  examined  the  names,  and  seemed 
much  agitated,  but,  with  utter  disregard  for  their 
word  of  honor,  declined  to  fulfil  their  promises. 
Then  we  knew  how  false  were  those  with  whom  we 
had  to  do.  Prayers  and  pleadings  having  failed  to 
accomplish  our  object  with  them,  we  felt  that  they 
were  below  the  reach  of  moral  stiasion,  and  must  have 
some  legal  suasion. 

As  the  voices  of  so  large  a majority  of  our  citizens 
had  been  disregarded,  in  the  petitions,  we  felt  that  it 
was  time  for  the  majority  to  assert  their  authority 
over  the  obdurate  few,  through  the  majesty  of  the  law. 
The  gentlemen  formed  a separate  organization,  and 
subscribed  funds  for  prosecutions.  Crusaders  were 
provided  with  blank  books,  one  for  every  dealer,  with 
his  name  upon  it.  Armed  with  those  books  and  pen- 
cils, we  went  by  twos,  and  taking  chairs  from  some 
convenient  friend,  we  would  sit  near  saloons,  and  note 
down  the  violations  of  State,  or  municipal  laws,  whichi 
we  witnessed.  Sometimes  the  sale  of  liquor  to  minors,, 
again  the  sale  to  a man  already  intoxicated,  etc.;  andi 
thus,  by  hours  of  wearisome  watching,  much  evidence 
was  gathered. 

An  “officer  of  the  day”  would  be  stationed  at  head- 


132 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


quarters — keeping  the  record  of  picket  work  and 
assigning  places.  The  pickets  would  go  out  quite 
early  in  the  morning,  and  continue  sometimes  until  ten 
o’clock  p.  M.,  or  even  later ; one  set  of  pickets  re- 
maining on  duty  from  one  to  three  hours,  then  being 
relieved  by  reserve  guards.  Valid  testimony  was 
obtained  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  proper  authorities, 
and  the  temperance  brothers  conducted  the  prosecu- 
tions. 

They  met  many  failures  and  some  successes.  One 
man  convicted  under  the  State  law  was  kept  in  court 
during  the  trial,  and  while  the  judge  was  preparing  to 
read  the  sentence,  he  escaped  from  his  guards,  and 
left  the  county.  After  some  weeks  he  returned  and 
was  rearrested,  and  sentenced  to  thirty  days’  imprison- 
ment on  bread  and  water,  and  as  large  a fine  as  the 
law  allowed. 

Some  of  our  workers  had  intemperate  husbands ; 
these  prosecuted  saloonists  under  the  Adair  law,  and 
some  of  them  obtained  judgment  against  them,  and 
received  damages.  Thus  the  liquor  business  became 
unprofitable,  and  public  sentiment  was  being  rapidly 
raised  to  a temperance  standard.  The  McConnels- 
ville  ordinance  was  passed  by  our  city  council,  but 
prosecutions  were  not  conducted  under  Its  provisions 
so  successfully  here  as  they  were  in  some  other 
places. 

The  Constitutional  Convention  of  our  State  had 
offered  to  the  people  a new  constitution,  with  a license 
clause,  and  they  were  allowed  to  vote  “ License,  or 
No  License,”  according  to  their  own  convictions  of 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


133 


right.  The  temperance  people  called  conventions, 
sent  an  organizer  into  the  field,  and  the  entire  State 
was  organized  against  license:  not,  of  course,  includ- 
ing all  the  people,  but  some  citizens  of  each  county. 

In  otLr  county  anti-license  meetings  were  held  in 
almost  every  church  and  school-house,  and  speakers 
were  found  not  only  among  the  brothers,  but  also 
amonof  the  sisters,  who  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives 
dared  to  lift  up  their  voices  in  the  congregations 
of  the  people,  in  earnest,  eloquent  appeals  to  those 
who  represent  us  at  the  polls,  not  to  legalize,  by 
their  sacred  right  of  franchise,  the  curse  we  were, 
laboring  so  earnestly  to  drive  from  our  beloved  State. 
Much  previously  unknown  and  undeveloped  talent 
was  thus  brouMit  into  active  service,  and  the  defeat 
of  the  License  Constitution  in  Ohio,  by  a large 
majority,  was  one  of  the  grand  results  of  the  Woman’s 
Crusade. 

During  the  vigorous  work  of  that  campaign,  we 
also  continued  our  meetings  at  head-quarters,  and 
saloon  visitation,  a part  of  the  time.  We  held  many 
open  air  meetings,  in  groves,  on  the  public  square, 
and  on  the  platform  at  the  Union  depot. 

Later  a-  juvenile  temple  was  formed,  which  held 
weekly  meetings,  and  soon  had  two  hundred  members. 
Another  was  organized  in  Mount  Union,  and  the  two 
held  occasional  union  meetings,  and  public  concerts 
and  literary  entertainments,  and  the  hearts  of  many 
parents  were  reached  through  their  children,  that 
had  remained  indifferent  to  all  the  wonderful  ex- 
periences of  the  Crusade. 


134 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


To  recapitulate ; When  we  ceased  to  visit  saloons, 
seventeen  men  and  women,  who  had  been  selling 
liquor  when  we  commenced  our  work,  were  engaged 
in  more  honorable  employments. 

A very  large  number  of  persons  had  taken  the  total 
abstinence  pledge.  A Temperance  Reading-Room  was 
established  in  Alliance.  Many  of  our  workers  have 
never  ceased  to  labor  for  the  Temperance  Reform, 
though  in  different  ways  from  those  of  the  Crusade 
days.  Women’s  Christian  Temperance  Unions  are 
now  in  existence  both  in  Alliance  and  Mount  Union. 
The  Crusade  is  not  ended  ! but  is  going  on  with  steadily 
increasing  power,  and  our  forces  are  being  increased 
continually  by  enlisting  the  help  of  the  Sabbath-schools 
everywhere.  This  “tidal  wave”  of  Temperance  will 
go  on,  broadening  and  deepening,  until  it  will  sweep 
the  Rum  Power  from  his  throne,  and  we  will  be  in 
very  deed  a free  people,  enfranchised  from  King 
Alcohol. 

A number  of  conversions  occurred  at  our  meetings, 
and  the  workers  learned  to  trtist  in  God,  as  they  had 
never  done  before.  As  Moses  stood  between  the 
erring  Hebrews  and  their  God,  and  on  IMount  Sinai 
the  presence  of  Jehovah  well-nigh  overwhelmed  him, 
so  we  stood  intercedino-  for  the  fallen,  and,  at  times, 

o 

the  glory  of  God ’shown  to  z/j' was  all  that  we  could 
bear.  The  promise  that  “ no  evil  should  befall  us” 
was  verified.  A saloonist  threatened  to  place  gun- 
powder under  the  floor,  and  cause  an  explosion  be- 
neath us,  but  we  visited  him,  and  no  harm  came  to  us. 
Another  turned  a fierce  dog  upon  us,  but  the  dog 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


135 


hung  his  head  and  ran  away.  A dealer’s  wife  stood 
close  by  a kneeling  Crusader,  and  held  a hatchet  over 
her  head,  but  the  uplifted  arm  fell  harmless  by  her 
side.  Guns  were  loaded  and  flourished  at  the  windows 
near  us  menacingly,  and  many  desperate  threats  were 
made.  But  the  Lord  of  hosts  was  with  us.  “In  the 
Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength:  we  will  trust  in 
him  foi'everd 

The  summing  up  of  the  results  of  the  Crusade  can- 
not be  perfected  until  the  records  in  the  “ Book  of 
Life”  are  read.  Many  of  them  are  like  the  tender 
seed  we  plant  in  spring-time — we  see  them  not  as 
they  germinate  under  the  soil,  A^et  they  spring  up,  and 
bring  forth  fruit  in  their  season.  We  sowed  precious 
seeds  of  truth  “beside  all  waters,”  and  we  note  not 
the  silent  germination  going  forward  in  the  souls  of 
those  who  received  them,  but  we  shall  find  the  perfect 
fruitaore  in  the  orlorious  Harvest  Home  of  the  Hereafter. 

o o 

We  append  some  incidents  of  our  work,  that  we 
trust  will  be  of  interest  to  all  our  readers. 

INCIDENTS. 

The  Lord  truly  makes  the  ''wrath  of  man  to  praise 
him.”  This  was  manifested  to  us  on  many  occasions, 
one  of  which  was  the  following : 

One  cold  wintry  day  we  were  assembled  for  prayer 
and  conference,  when  word  came  to  us  that  a saloon- 
ist  had  prepared  a "C7'iisader  iii  effigy d and  placed  it 
at  his  door.  We  formed  a band,  and  marched  to  the 
place.  The  novelty  of  the  affair  brought  a crowd  of 
listeners  to  hear  our  hymns  and  prayers;  and  as  we 


136 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


knelt  around  that  hideous  image,  intended  as  a re- 
proach to  uSj  we  seemed  very  near  to  our  blessed 
Redeemer,  who  was  mocked  and  persecuted,  and 
anicijied,  for  tis,  and  who  said  to  his  disciples : 
“ Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  you,  and  per- 
secute you,  and  shall  say  all  manner  of  evil  against 
you  falsely  for  my  name’s  sake.  Rejoice,  and  be 
exceeding  glad,  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven.” 
Those  services  were  blessed  to  our  own  souls,  and 
those  of  our  hearers. 

Afterwards  the  saloonist  apologized  for  his  conduct, 
saying  the  image  was  placed  there  in  his  absence. 
We  told  him  it  did  us  no  harm,  but  was  overruled  to 
our  good. 

An  extremely  wicked  dealer  was  so  convicted,  as  to 
tremble  mightily,  on  the  occasion  of  our  first  visit  to 
him,  yet  would  not  relent.  Afterwards,  when  intoxi- 
cated, he  accosted  the  ladies  with  such  a volley  of 
profanity,  that  a policeman  arrested  him.  He  was 
kept  in  the  lock-up  all  night,  and  in  the  morning,  when 
the  ladies  were  expected  to  appear  in  police  court 
against  him,  they  went  and  plead  for  Jiis  release. 
Giving  him  good  for  evil,  so  deepened  his  convictions, 
that  he  came  to  our  evening  meeting  and  surrendered 
his  business. 

One  evening,  a small  band  of  women  were  singing 
and  praying  in  front  of  a saloon,  the  door  of  which  was 
closed.  Inside  a few  desperate  men  were  trying  to 
drown  the  sounds  of  prayer  by  singing  a parody  on 
“ Mother,  dear  mother,  come  home  ! ” and  by  dancing, 
and  drunken  revelry.  A Quakeress  felt  moved  by 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


137 


the  Spirit  to  effect  an  entrance  all  alone.  She  opened 
the  door  partly,  when  some  one  within  suddenly  closed 
and  locked  it,  catching  the  front  width  of  her  plain 
full  dress  skirt  and  holding  it  fast  in  the  door.  The  lady 
was  thus  held  in  a stiff  and  uncomfortable  position 
until  a customer  from  the  street,  whose  rap  was  evi- 
dently recognized  inside,  caused  the  door  to  be  opened  ; 
the  Quakeress  entered  and  the  door  was  closed ; the 
dealer  raised  his  hands  to  thrust  her  out,  but  she  took 
his  arms  in  her  hands  and  knelt  quickly  before  him, 
and  breathed  an  earnest  prayer.  A policeman  fol- 
lowed her  into  the  saloon  and  ordered  the  men  to  be 
quiet.  The  revelry  ceased,  and  silence  reigned 
among  the  rowdies.  When  her  mission  of  love  was 
completed  she  went  forth  filled  with  peace,  and  those 
men  were  responsible  before  God  for  one  more  offer 
of  mercy;  for  when  the  Holy  Spirit  indites  a prayer, 
he  also  convicts  the  hearts  of  those  for  whom  the 
prayer  is  heard,  and  then  as  free  agents  they  receive 
or  reject  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Soon  after  our  active  Crusade  work  commenced, 
the  Whiskey  Ring  was  roused  to  action,  and  they  sent 
out  great  showy  posters  announcing  an  anti-Temper- 
ance  Meeting.  And  those  opposed  to  the  “Woman’s 
Whiskey  War”  were  invited  from  all  the  surrounding 
country.  On  the  afternoon  of  their  meeting  we 
gathered  in  a church  for  social  prayer.  Some  of  our 
temperance  men  sent  us  word  that  it  would  not  be 
prudent  for  us  to  patrol  the  saloons  that  day,  as  2.  riot 
was  expected  if  our  band  was  on  the  street. 

We  took  not  “council  with  flesh  and  blood,”  but 


138 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


asked  direction  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  from  Him 
our  marching  orders  came.  It  was  a long  procession, 
and  a very  solemn  one,  that  wended  its  way  from  the 
church  to  a point  near  the  depot  that  afternoon.  Three 
saloons  were  adjacent  to  each  other,  and  we  held  our 
services  on  the  street  in  front  of  those.  While  we 
were  kneeling  on  the  sidewalk — in  two  rows  on  the 
edge  of  it — leaving  three  feet  between  us  for  passers- 
by,  a train  of  cars  came  rushing  in,  bringing  a large 
delegation  from  neighboring  towns.  They  took  up 
the  line  of  march,  headed  by  the  Mozart  Brass  Band, 
which  accompanied  them.  The  band  struck  up  a 
lively  tune  as  the  procession  started  to  pass  between 
the  rows  of  kneelino-  women. 

O 

Many  of  them  were  so  drunk  they  staggered  against 
us  as  they  walked ; but  our  voices  went  on,  and  the 
music  ceased,  and  the  tune  melted  into  silence  un- 
finished ; and  a great  stillness  came  over  that  crowd  of 
men  who  w'ere  scoffers  at  first ; and  the  white  dove  of 
PEACE  descended  upon  the  women  who  had  thus 
humbled  themselves  to  kneel  at  the  feet  of  a mocking 
rabble;  and  the  living  presence  of  the  Master  filled 
our  souls  with  joy  unutterable. 

The  Whiskey  mass-meeting  resulted  only  in  the 
passage  of  some  resolutions,  denouncing  the  “present 
mode  of  female  warfare,”  and  declaring  that  they  did 
not  approve  of  intemperance ! Two  of  these  we  quote : 

''Resolved,  That  we  condemn  drunkenness,  despise 
drtmkards,  and  pity  those  who,  for  want  of  more  moral 
power,  try  to  fortify  themselves  against  the  violation 
of  the  laws  of  Temperance  ordained  by  nature. 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


139 


^'Resolved,  That  we  are  willing  to  support  the  laws 
for  the  diminution  and  p7'evention  of  intempei'ance  as 
far  as  in  our  power ; to  advocate  a more  appropriate 
punishment,  and  the  correction  of  inebriates,  and  to 
use  our  influence  to  regidate  the  sale  of  liquors  by  an 
effective  license  law.” 

The  vice-president  of  the  meeting  and  many  of  the 
audience  were  liquor-dealers,  and  such  resolutions  as 
these  were  passed  by  those  who  sell  what  produces 
inebriety,  and  it  is  their  philanthropic  (?)  design  to 
punish  men  for  the  effects  produced  by  liquors,  the 
price  of  which  clothe  their  wives  and  children ! Thank- 
ful we  are,  that  Justice  is  with  God,  and  will  be  dis- 
pensed to  us  all  in  the  eternal  ages! 

One  gloomy  April  day,  as  we  sat  in  council,  a mes- 
sag-e  came  to  us  that  a wholesale  dealer  from  Cleve- 
land  was  in  town  for  the  purpose  of  selling  liquors 
to  the  dealers  here.  He  was  a very  portly,  pompous 
millionaire,  we  heard,  and  was  boasting  that  the  Cru- 
saders in  his  city  were  afraid  of  Jam,  and  dared  not 
molest  his  place  of  business.  Desiring  to  prevent 
him  from  supplying  liquor  to  be  sold  in  our  town,  we 
went  in  a band  down  Main  street.  He  saw  us  coming, 
and  sought  refuge  in  a clothing  store.  We  followed, 
and  before  he  could  escape,  he  was  literally  sur- 
rounded by  kneeling  women  ; a prayer  was  offered  and 
a hymn  was  sung.  He  then  crowded  past  us  into  the 
street ; we  followed  in  procession ; he  went  into  a 
hotel,  but  as  we  were  about  to  enter,  he  did  not  wait 
to  transact  any  business  ihe7'e,  but  felt  an  immediate 
call  to  visit  a neighboring  saloon : so  did  we. 


140  ' CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE, 

He  evidently  hoped  to  enter  alone  and  lock  us  out, 
but  when  the  door  opened  wide  enough  to  admit  his 
corpulent  figure,  it  was  wide  enough  for  two  small 
Crusaders  to  find  entrance,  which  they  did  so  very 
close  behind  him,  that  when  the  door  was  quickly 
locked,  it  was  astonishing  to  him  that  his  fair  followers 
were  also  there;  he  turned  a woful  face  towards  the 
back  door,  but  lo!  they  were  coming!  the  Crusade 
band  ! The  front  door  was  thrown  open  and  in  came 
aiiother  division  of  the  band,  and  they  knelt,  and  the 
persecuted  nabob  was  again  in  the  centre  of  a lively 
prayer-meeting,  which  continued  until  he  forced  a 
passage  to  the  street ; we  followed  in  solemn  order, 
singing  a hymn.  We  kept  close  behind  him,  going 
up  Main  street  until  he  found  a buggy  standing  idle, 
with  a driver,  and  he  was  driven  rapidly  awa}^  while 
we  went  quietly  on  to  head-quarters  as  though  we  had 
no  other  intent.  We  considered  and  felt  certain  the 
warm  reception  Ave  had  given  him  would  remind  him 
of  pressing  business  at  home,  that  he  must  reach  by 
the  next  north-bound  train.  Near  train  time  a Cru- 
sade band  was  at  the  station.  Soon  after  our  arrival, 
a guest  of  a hotel  near  by,  came  to  us  and  said,  “ The 
man  you  are  Crusading  is  hidden  in  an  upper  room 
at  the  hotel ; I heard  his  plans,  they  are  going  to  take 
him  out  the  back  Avay  to  the  train.” 

After  a time  we  saw  a frig-htened-lookino-  individual 
of  great  avoirdupois,  accompanied  by  a very  small  Jew 
for  protection,  coming  up  the  railroad  track  from  the 
rear,  having  taken  a long;  Avalk  down  back  allevs.  to 
avoid  the  public  thoroughfares.  They  entered  the  back 


> CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE.  I4I 

door  of  the  car,  puffing  with  exhaustion;  and  just  as 
our  hero  drew  a breath  of  relief,  thinking  how  shrewdly 
he  had  evaded  his  pursuers,  he  noticed  some  Cru- 
saders entering  at  the  front  door  of  the  coach ; he 
turned  to  flee,  but  others  came  in  at  the  back  door, 
and  in  despair  he  sank  into  a seat.  The  aisle  was  im- 
mediately filled  compactly  with  women.  The  terrified 
man  threw  up  a window  seeking  egress,  but  it  would 
not  do,  his  body  was  too  large  to  pass  through  the 
aperture,  and  besides What  greeted  his  be- 

wildered vision?  An  immense  crowd  of  men  and 
women — Whiskey  Ring,  saloonists,  'and  temperance 
workers — all  had  come  to  the  prayer -meeting.  Cru- 
saders to  right  of  him!  Crusaders  to  left  of  him! 
Crusaders  everywhere!  And  close  at  his  side  a 
solemn  voice  was  uttering  an  earnest  prayer. 

We  exhorted  him  to  cease  his  sinful  trade  in  Rum, 
and  we  sung  Crusade  hymns,  the  conductor  de- 
taining the  train  for  our  services.  The  passengers  in 
the  car  wept  much,  and  cried  aloud,  ''God  bless  the 
women d'  We  finally  made  our  adieux  to  the  dealer, 
telling  him  we  were  his  friends,  and  inviting  him  to 
return  and  we  would  give  him  another  meeting ! A 
telegram  was  sent  to  Crusade  head-quarters  at  Cleve- 
land, asking  the  band  of  ladies  there  to  meet  him  at 
the  train  and  escort  him  home,  which  they  did,  follow- 
ing him  singing  Crusade  songs. 

The  whole  transaction  here  was  conducted  with  the 
zitmost  solemnity,  and  the  prayers  were  full  of  spiritual 
power.  The  ludicrous  aspect  of  the  proceeding  never 
occm'red  to  its  until  it  was  all  over. 


142 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


There  was  a large  billiard  hall  in  the  opera  house, 
just  across  the  hall  from  our  head-quarters.  We 
found  that  liquors  were  sold  there,  in  a quiet  way. 

We  visited  the  proprietor  in  a band  and  he  was 
very  courteous,  though  unyielding.  ‘ One  night  two 
women  “on  picket  duty”  stood  by  his  door.  He 
grew  very  angry  and  roughly  pushed  them  out  into 
the  hall.  Next  day  the  leader  of  the  band  was 
warned,  that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  go  there,  he  seemed 
so  wickedly  disposed.  After  praying  about  it,  the 
band  leader  felt  especially  impressed  to  visit  him  that 
very  day ; the  band  went,  the  leader  rapped  at  his 
door  and  asked  timidly,  to  be  allowed  to  hold  a prayer- 
meeting there.  He  gave  a reluctant  permission,  and 
after  a hymn  had  been  sung  he  said  to  the  leader, 
“ Will  you  read  a portion  of  Scripture  that  I will  select 
for  you  ? ” She  gave  an  affirmative  reply,  and  he 
found  the  sixth  chapter  of  Matthew  and  asked  her  to 
read  the  first  eight  verses.  She  did  so,  silently 
praying  all  the  time,  that  Christ  would  lead  her  to  act 
wisely. 

Having  read  it  she  proceeded  to  speak  from  it: 
saying,  “We  do  not  think  we  are  ‘doing  alms’  when 
we  carry  the  gospel  to  our  sinful  brothers  for  whom 
Christ  died,  neither  do  we  expect  to  gain  any  glory 
for  havinof  knelt  in  saloons  and  on  the  unclean  streets 
in  prayer;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the  greatest  cross  that 
we  have  ever  carried,  to  thus  humble  ourselves  before 
the  people.  Yet,  we  are  made  willing  to  do  so  for 
yov,r  sakes,  and  the  sake  of  the  fathers  and  sons  you 
are  poisoning  with  alcohol ! ” She  then  gave  a brief 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


143 


exhortation  to  the  misaved  to  come  to  Jesus.  Thrill- 
ing prayers  were  offered  and  hymns  sung,  and  it 
seemed  to  the  worshippers  that  the  Shekinah  itself 
hovered  over  them. 

The  proprietor  was  much  affected.  Several  men 
who  had  ceased  playing  billiards  at  our  entrance,  gave 
eager  attention,  and  many  eyes  were  red  with  weep- 
ing, when  the  little  band  departed. 

Some  weeks  later  the  leader  of  that  band  was 
speaking  to  a congregation  in  the  African  Church. 
At  the  close  of  her  remarks,  a white  man  arose  and 
asked  permission  to  speak.  “ Once,”  he  said,  “ I was 
a liquor-dealer,  but  I saw  the  error  of  my  way,  and 
changed  my  business,  but  I never  was  converted, 
until  the  day  you  visited  the  Opera  House  billiard 
hall,  and  yoii  read  the  sixth  chapter  of  Matthew  and 
spoke  from  it — then  and  there  I was  converted.  I wUl 
never  do^lbt  my  conversion^'  etc.,  and  he  has  ever 
since  continued  a faithful  member  of  a Christian 
church.  Reported  by  M.  E.  G. 

Rev.  William  Hunter,  at  that  time  Editor  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Christian  Advocate,  residing  at  Alliance,  and 
working  in  the  Crusade  meetings  here,  composed  the 
following  beautiful  hymn,  which  we  used  very  often  in 
our  temperance  meetings.  He  has  since  been  called 
“ up  higher,”  to  sing  the  songs  of  the  redeemed. 

“BATTLE-HYMN  OF  THE  WOMEN  CRUSADERS.” 

The  light  of  truth  is  breaking, 

On  the  mountain  top  it  gleams, 

Let  it  flash  along  the  valleys. 

Let  it  glitter  on  our  streams, 


144 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


Till  all  our  land  awakens 
In  its  flush  of  golden  beams, 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus — Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  ! 

Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah ! 
Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah ! 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

With  purpose  strong  and  steady, 

In  the  great  Jehovah’s  name. 

We  rise  to  save  our  kindred 
From  a life  of  woe  and  shame, 

'And  the  jubilee  of  freedom 
To  the  slaves  of  sin  proclaim. 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus— QAoxy , Glory,  Hallelujah  ! etc. 

From  morning’s  early  watches 
Till  the  setting  of  the  sun. 

We  will  never  flag  nor  falter 
In  the  work  we  have  begun, 

Till  the  forts  have  all  surrendered. 

And  the  victory  is  won. 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus — Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  ! etc. 

We  wield  no  carnal  weapon, 

And  we  hurl  no  fiery  dart. 

But  with  words  of  love  and  reason 
We  are  sure  to  win  the  heart. 

And  persuade  the  poor  transgressor 
To  prefer  the  better  part. 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus — Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  ! etc. 

When  dawns  the  day  of  terror, 

And  the  awful  trumpet’s  sound 
Shall  waken  up  the  sleepers 

From  beneath  the  quaking  ground. 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


145 


May  no  blood  of  fallen  brothers 
On  our  startled  souls  be  found. 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus — Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah!  etc. 

Our  strength  is  in  Jehovah, 

And  our  cause  is  in  His  care, 

With  Almighty  arms  to  help  us 
We  have  strength  to  do  and  dare. 

While  confiding  in  the  promise 
That  the  Lord  will  answer  prayer. 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Chorus — Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  ! etc. 

The  following  poem  was  composed  by  Mrs.  M,  B. 
Reese,  at  that  time  President  of  the  Alliance  League, 
and  sung  in  our  mass-meetings,  to  the  tune,  “Tenting 
on  the  old  camp-ground  : ” 

‘‘THE  COLLEGE-BELL.” 

A lowly  consecrated  band. 

Who  loved  the  Master’s  name. 

With  patience  waited  on  the  Lord, 

Until  the  answer  came. 

Chorus — Many  a form  has  bent  ’neath  the  storm. 

The  burden  of  souls  to  tell ; 

Many  are  the  hearts  gladdened  to-day 
The  burden  of  souls  to  tell ; 

Listening  alway,  for  chimes  that  say. 

Your  brothers  pray  as  well.* 

Go  forth,  ye  trusting  ones.  He  said. 

In  faith  to  sing  and  pray,  > 


* When  the  praying  band  went  out  for  saloon  visitation,  the  brothers  remained 
in  the  College  building  in  prayer-meeting,  and  at  the  close  of  every  prayer,  the 
College-bell  was  tolled. 

10 


146 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


No  evil  shall  your  steps  befall, 

I have  prepared  the  way. 

Chorus — Many  a form,  etc. 

Dark  shadows  swept  the  wintry  sky. 

The  tempest  echoed  loud  ; 

But,  oh  ! we  know  our  Father’s  face 
Smiled  on  us  from  the  cloud. 

Chorus — Many  a form,  etc. 

No  threats  disturbed,  no  fears  oppressed. 

Nor  care,  least  man  should  mock ; 

We  only  heard  the  Shepherd’s  call, 

“ Fear  not,  ye  little  flock.” 

Chorus — Many  a form,  etc. 

His  love  hath  kept.  His  hand  hath  led, 

Our  footsteps  day  by  day ; 

And  victory  soon  will  crown  our  cause 
If  we  but  watch  and  pray. 

Chorus — Many  a form,  etc 

INCIDENTS. 

Two  ladies  were  sent  to  interview  the  priest,  hoping 
to  gain  his  gracious  permission  for  the  women  of  the 
Catholic  Church  to  work  in  the  saloon  visitation.  He 
received  them  courteously  in  his  private  parlor.  But 
on  learning  the  object  of  their  visit,  his  denunciations 
were  bitter.  The  ladies  felt  the  exceeding  uncomfort- 

O 

ableness  of  their  position  and  politely  offered  to  with- 
draw their  request,  also  their  presence.  In  an  excited 
manner  he  commanded  them  to  be  seated  while  he 
proceeded  to  explain  that  Christ’s  commission  was 
given  to  the  Apostle,  through  whom  it  was  delegated 
to  the  Pope,  thence  to  the  Priesthood  ; and  sneeringly 
added,  “ Where  did  you  get  your  commission  to  go  on 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 


147 


the  streets  and  teach  men  the  gospel  ? Tell  me, 
woman,  / demand  it ; where  did  you  get  your  com- 
mission? ” Remembering  that  she  must  not  “deny 
the  faith  that  was  in  her,”  with  coolness,  she  replied, 
simply,  “ I get  my  commission  from  my  Bible.”  Strik- 
inor  his  clenched  hand  on  the  sacred  word,  he  vehe- 
mently  demanded,  Where?"  Without  hesitation,  the 
Holy  Spirit  helped  her  to  the  words,  “ Christ  says, 

‘ Lovest  thou  me  ? feed  my  sheep.’  St.  Peter’s  words, 
‘The  Rock  of  the  Holy  Church.’”  Their  utterance 
fed  his  anger.  He  reiterated,  almost  fiercely,  “ Woman, 
dai'e  you  place  yourself  on  a level  with  St.  Peter?” 
Accompanied  by  sneering  denunciations  of  the  work, 
again  he  demanded,  “Where  in  the  Bible  do  you  find 
a commission  to  women  to  teach  the  gospel  upon  the 
street  ? ” Again  the  Spirit’s  quickening  power  en- 
abled her  to  reply,  with  calmness,  “ On  the  resurrection 
morn,  Christ  told  Mary  to  ‘ Go  tell  my  disciples,  to  go 
quickly in  her  haste  she  probably  ran  through  the 
streets,  proclaiming  as  she  went  the  risen  Saviour.” 
He  made  no  reply.  His  manner  softened ; with  a half- 
apology for  his  excited  words,  he  courteously  per- 
mitted the  ladies  to  depart. 

Nearly  two  months  of  the  siege  had  elapsed.  The 
light  of  earnest  and  patient  labor  shining  within  the: 
haunts  of  vice,  revealed  the  strong,  deep  shadows. 
The  women,  no  longer  invigorated  by  the  keen,  biting 
March  winds,  felt  the  pressure  of  household  care,  as. 
well  as  the  lassitude  of  spring-tide.  The  ranks  were 
perceptibly  thinned.  The  work  .of  picketing  the  sa- 
loons grew  wearisome  and  discouragingly  monoto- 


148  CRUSADE  AT  ALLIANCE. 

nous.  An  energy  born  of  consecration  alone  nerved 
the  faithful  to  carry  on  the  desperate  struggle.  In  the 
proceedings  of  the  city  council,  an  ordinance  to  re- 
strain and  prohibit  ale,  beer,  and  porter-houses,  or 
shops,  or  habitual  resorts  for  tippling,  had  passed  its 
second  reading.  The  time  for  the  third  and  final 
reading  drew  near.  The  saloon-keepers  hopefully 
reviewed  our  depleted  bands,  and  carefully  tithed  each 
ounce  of  popular  sentiment,  knowing  their  interests 
hung  in  the  legal  scales  of  the  city  council.  They  did 
not  recognize  a Gideonite  band  that  made  them  daily 
visitations.  Each  member,  humbled  with  the  publicity 
of  street  parade,  felt  she  had  laid  her  face  in  the  gutter 
that  her  brother  might  walk  erect  in  sobriety  and 
virtuous  manhood.  If  the  voices  were  fewer  that  sung- 
“ Nearer  my  God,  to  Thee,”  the  strains  rose  higher;  if 
lips  faltered  as  they  plead  for  strength,  the  prayer  was 
deeper  as  it  went  from  burdened  hearts  to  the  ear  of 
the  Great  Eternal. 

At  this  issue,  through  the  long  afternoon,  two  ladies 
kept  picket-guard  at  a notorious  saloon  in  an  obscure 
part  of  the  city.  In  their  conversation,  the  question 
arose  in  this  immediate  crisis ; What  can  be  done  to 
quicken  the  flagging  interest?  A serious  question. 
As  they  left  the  post  of  duty,  they  took  it  with  them 
to  their  homes.  One  of  them  took  it  to  her  closet, 
and  in  earnest  prayer  besought  the  Lord  to  wisely 
direct,  else  a worthy  cause  and  \vorthy  efforts  must 
suffer  defeat. 

As  she  rose  from  her  knees,  a full  conception  of  a 
Temperance  Convention  flashed  upon  her  mind.  The 
plan  was  laid  before  the  presiding  officer,  and  heartily 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  PHILADELPHIA. 


149 


approved.  Committees  were  speedily  at  work  to 
effect  its  consummation. 

The  following  Tuesday  evening  was  the  time  for 
the  final  reading  of  the  ordinance.  That  day  was 
chosen  for  the  convention.  Announcements  were 
freely  but  quietly  made.  The  noon  trains  brought  del- 
egations from  Pittsburgh,  Cleveland,  Salem,  Ravenna, 
and  towns  of  the  vicinity,  where  leagues  had  been 
formed.  Mount  Union  College  sent  a delegation  of 
faculty  and  entire  body  of  students.  Alliance  Hall 
was  filled  to  overflowing.  With  addresses  full  of  de- 
votion to  the  work,  and  encouragement  to  the  workers, 
and  music  that  stirred  all  hearts  to  renewed  energy, 
the  meeting  was  one  of  wonderful  enthusiasm.  At 
the  close  of  the  afternoon  service  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  Crusaders  filed  out  of  the  hall,  down  Main 
street.  The  saloon-keepers,  suddenly  surprised  and 
awed  into  submission  by  the  number,  offered  no  re- 
sistance, and  an  impressive  street  service  was  held. 
During  the  evening  session  the  enthusiasm  was  at  its 
height,  when  a messenger  brought  the  glad  tidings  that 
the  hotly  contested  ordinance  had  passed.  The  old 
college-bell  rang  out  gleefully ; the  men  almost  lost 
decorum  in  sounding  cheer;  but  the  “Women  of  the 
Whiskey  War,”  with  up-lifted  faces,  sang  with  hearty 
earnestness,  “ Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings 
flow.”  Reported  by  A.  M.  B. 

NEW  PHILADELPHIA,  OHIO. 

The  Secretary  of  the  League,  Callie  A.  Everett, 
gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  closing 
of  the  saloons  in  this  town  early  in  the  Crusade: 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  P.HILADELPHIA. 


^50 


“Mr.  Schmidt,  a German,”  proposed  many  times 
that  the  ladies  buy  him  out ; this,  however,  was  against 
our  principles,  and  we  urged  him  to  “dare  to  do  right,” 
and  trust  to  our  temperance  people  to  give  him  a fair 
start  in  something  else ; finally,  prayers  and  entreaties 
prevailed,  and  he  carried  out  his  liquor,  and  showed 
the  women  how  to  open  the  barrels.  As  it  streamed 
over  the  ground,  the  expression  of  feeling  in  different 
individuals  was  noticeable.  Some  wept,  others  laughed, 
the  men  cheered,  anvils  were  fired,  and  all  the  bells  in 
our  city  pealed  forth  the  glad  news. 

The  women  surrounded  and  overwhelmed  him  with 
thanks,  and  he,  with  tears  flowing  rapidly,  assured 
them  “he  was  glad,  too.”  His  saloon-tables,  glasses, 
etc.,  were  at  once  offered  at  auction. 

The  cheering  news  spread  like  wildfire,  and  a large 
crowd  assembled  to  bid-off  the  various  articles.  One 
tumbler  was  sold  three  times  to  the  same  man,  bring- 
ing in  all  seventeen  dollars.  At  this  rate  he  was  soon 
recompensed,  and  has  started,  a number  one,  butcher 
shop. 

John  Myers  likewise  poured  out,  or  allowed  the 
ladies  to  empty,  twelve  barrels  of  wine  and  whiskey 
into  our  streets,  and  as  he  was  better  off  financially 
than  Schmidt,  did  not  need  so  much  assistance ; how- 
ever, the  women  bought  his  tables,  etc.,  and  by  their 
presence  urged  the  men  to  buy.  He  has  started  a 
saddler  shop. 

The  demonstrations  on  this  occasion  were  similar  to 
the  one  mentioned  before. 

Mr.  John  Furney  asked  that  no  public  demonstra- 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  PHILADELPHIA,  I5I 

tion  be  made  over  his  surrender,  and  the  ladies  ob- 
tained his  name  quietly,  only  evidencing  their  triumph 
by  the  irrepressible  joy  beaming  from  their  counte- 
nances, Mr,  Furneyhas  started  a “Temperance  Res- 
taurant” in  connection  with  his  grocery,  and  on  the 
4th  of  April,  1874,  fifty  ladies  ordered  him  to  prepare 
dinner  for  them. 

These  cases  of  surrender  were  from  the  very  ones 
that  at  first  opposed  us  in  every  way.  At  Schmidt’s, 
particularly,  they  danced  and  sung,  jeered  and  drank 
over  the  women’s  heads. 

The  worst  cases  generally  yielded  first 


CHAPTER  III. 


CRUSADE  IN  LARGER  TOWNS. 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 

Mrs.  Sarah  K.  Bolton  gives  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  Temperance  Crusade  and  its  results  in 
Cleveland,  written  for  the  Morning  : 

The  noble  work  of  the  women  of  southern  Ohio  had 
touched  every  Christian  heart  in  Cleveland.  On  the 
loth  of  March,  1874,  a meeting  was  called  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Women’s  Christian  Association,  and 
600  of  the  best  and  truest  of  the  city  came  together  to 
ask  their  God  what  they  should  do,  for  the  destroying 
of  this  evil  of  intemperance,  and  the  up-building  of 
His  kingdom.  They  were  women,  for  the  most  part, 
who  had  been  active  in  the  churches,  and  in  all  benevo- 
lent work. 

An  organization  was  effected,  and  Miss  Sarah  Fitch, 
President  of  the  W.  C.  A.,  a woman  whose  executive 
ability  and  consecration  had  gained  for  her  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people,  was  chosen  President  of  the  Tem- 
perance League. 

(152) 


MRS.  SARAH  KNOWLES  BOLTON 


First  Assistant  Corresponding  Secretary  Woman’s 
National  Christian  Temperance  Union. 


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4*i*.  . 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


153 


Immediately  pledge-boolcs  were  obtained,  with  prop- 
erty-owners’, citizens’,  and  dealers’  pledges. 

The  city  was  districted,  and  women  of  influence,  over 
one  hundred  in  number,  volunteered  to  canvass  the  city 
for  signatures.  In  a short  time  over  5,000  women 
were  enrolled  members  of  the  League,  each  one  sien- 
ing  a pledge  neither  to  use  intoxicants,  nor  offer  them 
as  a beverage,  and  to  discountenance  their  use  in 
every  possible  way,  and  about  10,000  names  to  all  the 
other  pledges.  The  question  was  constantly  asked : 
“Will  the  women  of  a wealthy,  conservative  city  go  upon 
the  streets  as  a praying  band  ? ” Liquor-dealers  said : 
“Let  the  women  come  quietly  by  committees,  and  we 
will  receive  them,  but  coming  in  a body  to  pray  with 
us,  brands  our  business  as  disreputable.”  The  time 
came  when  the  Master  seemed  to  call  for  a more  com- 
plete consecration,  for  a higher  power  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  liquor  traffic.  When,  in  a large  prayer- 
meeting, volunteers  for  Crusade  work  were  Ccdled  for, 
twenty-two  brave  women,  several  of  them  the  wives 
of  clergymen,  said:  “Here  am  I.  Send  me!  The 
Lord’s  will  be  done.”  They  proceeded  directly  to  the 
most  fashionable  saloon  of  the  city  and  were  permitted 
to  enter.  “There  is  a fountain  filled  with  blood”  was 
sung,  the  first  hymn  that  was  to  inaugurate  a Christian 
warfare  against  1,200  centres  of  evil.  The  Bible  was 
read  and  prayer  offered.  Men  bowed  their  heads 
abashed  and  were  silent,  and  women,  consecrated 
anev/  by  their  trust  in  God,  and  a revelation  of  the  sin 
they  were  called  upon  to  meeq  went  back  to  the 
church  in  the  midst  of  a surging  crowd,  strong  to  do 


154 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


the  unknown  work  before  them.  The  next  day 
saloons  were  visited,  and  again  the  eager  crowds 
gathered,  some  listening  tearfully  to  the  hymns,  some 
jeering  and  scoffing.  On  the  third  day  the  liquor 
interest  seemed  to  have  awakened  to  a full  conscious- 
ness of  the  situation.  The  beer  element  begfan  to  feel 
that  its  liberties  were  being  fettered.  Drinkers, 
dealers,  and  roughs,  gathered  in  large  numbers,  in  the 
streets,  to  wait  for  the  praying  women.  Beer  and 
whiskey  had  done  their  maddening  work  with  the 
brain,  and  made  them  ready  for  riot. 

In  the  central  part  of  the  city,  forty  w'omen,  pressed 
upon  by  a jeering  crowd,  w^ent  forward  in  their  work 
of  prayer.  In  the  western  part,  a smaller  number, 
refused  entrance  at  a saloon,  knelt  and  prayed  upon 
the  sidewalk.  A mob,  headed  by  an  organization  of 
brew'ers,  rushed  upon  the  kneeling  women,  kicking 
one  badly  in  the  side,  another  in  the  back,  and  striking 
others  with  their  fists. 

A Mr.  Doolittle,  attempting  to  defend  them,  was 
brutally  beaten,  (has  been  obliged  to  keep  his  bed  for 
nearly  two  years,)  and  would  have  been  killed  at  once 
had  he  not  been  hurried  away  by  the  police,  some  of 
whom  even  were  badly  injured.  The  praying  band 
were  locked  in  a store  away  from  the  infuriated  mob, 
who,  by  the  arrival  of  more  officers,  were  dispersed, 
cursing  and  yelling  as  they  went. 

The  next  day,  taking  their  lives  In  their  hands,  a 
large  company  of  women  went  out,  and  similar  scenes 
were  enacted. 

In  the  meantime  public  meetings  had  been  called 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


155 


in  the  churches,  and  such  throngs  gathered  that  they 
could  not  find  standing  room. 

The  clergy  as  one  man  came  to  the  front  to  defend 
the  Christian  women,  who  had  done  nothing  save  walk 
quietly  upon  the  streets  and  pray  for  men  who  were 
making  the  city  and  the  land  one  vast  ruin  and  desola- 
tion. True  it  called  attention  to  the  groans  of  drunk- 
ards’ wives  and  the  cries  of  drunkards’  children,  and 
marked  as  the  direct  cause,  the  liquor-dealers,  but  for 
this  the  traffic,  (not  the  praying  women,)  were  at  fault. 
All  good  citizens  rose  up  in  indignation  and  horror 
that  their  wives  and  mothers  were  at  the  mercy  of  a 
liquor  mob.  Business  men  left  their  stores,  ministers 
their  studies,  and  a thousand  manly  men  went  out  to 
defend  the  women. 

The  mayor  was  visited  by  a committee  of  citizens. 
A proclamation  was  immediately  issued,  which,  while  it 
did  not  permit  the  women  to  hold  meetings  on  the 
sidewalk,  left  them  free  to  call  upon  all  the  saloons, 
with  none  to  molest  or  make  them  afraid.  The 
military  companies  w^ere  ordered  to  be  in  readiness 
resting  on  their  arms;  the  police  force  was  increased, 
and  the  liquor  interest  soon  made  to  feel  that  the  city 
was  not  under  their  control.  The  mob  never  acrain 

o 

tried  its  power. 

For  over  three  months,  with  scarcely  a day’s  excep- 
tion, the  praying  bands  went  from  saloon  to  saloon, 
holding  a prayer-meeting  where  the  proprietor  was 
willing,  giving  temperance  tracts  and  cards  to  the 
crowds  that  gathered  to  hear  the  singing  and  the 
prayers,  having  ware-houses  often  thrown  open  to 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


156 

them  for  services  when  the  saloons  on  the  street  re- 
fused to  admit  them ; sometimes  enterinq^  a vacant 
lot,  and  surrounded  perchance  by  a hardened  crowd, 
with  none  to  protect  them  but  their  God  (the  police 
having  been  withdrawn),  they  preached  the  gospel  of 
the  Son  of  God,  crucified  for  sinners. 

One  man,  a German,  very  angry  at  their  visits  in 
his  street,  and  rude  in  his  treatment  of  them,  held  a 
mock  prayer-meeting  in  his  shop,  had  his  leg  broken 
by  his  horse  next  day  and  died  soon  after. 

At  a Jew’s  saloon,  a picture  of  Ghrist,  crowned  with 
thorns  and  draped  with  black,  was  held  up  on  a pole 
before  the  crowd,  who  were  drinkinor  beer  and 

O 

blaspheming. 

On  the  same  street,  from  one  of  the  worst  saloons, 
where  cock-fiahtinq-  was  carried  on,  three  fierce  doqs 
were  set  upon  Mrs.  Gharles  Wheeler,  who  was  that  day 
leading  the  band.  Without  ceasing  her  prayer  she 
gently  laid  her  hands  upon  their  heads,  and  as  though 
taught  of  a higher  power  than  their  master’s,  they 
crouched  at  her  feet  and  were  quiet.  This  saloon  has 
since  become  a friendly  inn,  most  inviting  and  beneficial. 

Often  several  bands  visited  different  parts  of  the 
city  during  the  same  day.  Again,  as  many  as  500 
women,  two  by  two,  quietly  and  silently,  making  a 
procession  of  over  one-fourth  of  a mile  in  length,  fol- 
lowed by  scores  in  carriages,  went  to  the  larger  whole- 
sale liquor  houses,  club-houses,  hotels,  etc.  Often 
they  were  bidden  to  enter.  “Tell  me  the  old,  old 
story,”  “Almost  persuaded,”  “I  am  trusting.  Lord,  in 
Thee,”  were  sung,  and  prayers  uttered,  whose  tender- 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


157 


ness  and  earnestness  brought  tears  to  eyes  unused  to 
weeping. 

Often  a saloon-keeper  with  his  heart  not  wholly 
seared  by  his  occupation,  wept  like  a child.  Many 
gave  up  the  business,  some  rich,  some  poor,  and  never 
resumed  it. 

I'hose  were  wonderful  days,  when  a city  was  bap- 
tized by  continuous  prayer;  when  women,  forgetting 
the  ease  and  luxury  of  their  homes,  went  down  to 
these  places  of  desolation  to  save  those  for  whom 
Christ  died.  Men  took  off  their  hats  as  the  procession 
went  by.  ■ Little  children  gathered  close  to  the  singers, 
and,  catching  the  words,  sang  them  months  after  in 
their  dingy  hovels.  Haggard  women  bent  their  heads 
as  they  murmured  with  unutterable  sadness,  “You’ve 
come  too  late  to  save  my  boy  or  my  husband.”  Men 
dying  in  attics  sent  for  the  praying  bands  to  come  and 
tell  them  about  the  Saviour.  Men  who  had  lost  all 
hope  because  of  the  appetite  that  mastered  them, 
heard  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  from  women’s  lips, 
and  stretching  forth  their  hands  were  lifted  upon  the 
Everlastino-  Rock. 

o 

During  these  three  months  of  Crusade  work,  three 
distilleries,  eight  breweries,  thirty-one  drug  stores, 
thirty-five  hotels,  forty  wholesale  dealers,  and  1,100 
saloons  were  visited,  many  of  them  again  and  again. 
Four  hundred  and  fifty  of  these  places  often  admitted 
the  bands  for  services.  There  were  seventy  outdoor 
meetings  in  warehouses,  etc.  Mass-meetings  on  the 
Sabbath,  conducted  by  women,  were  held  in  wigwams 
in  different  wards,  as  well  as  churches,  and  always 
crowded. 


158  CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 

Meantime  the  prominent  men  of  the  city,  believing 
that  the  laws  of  Ohio  forbidding  the  sale  of  liquors  to 
be  drank  on  the  premises  should  be  enforced,  as  also 
the  Adair  law,  which  makes  a man  responsible  for  the 
harm  which  the  liquor  that  he  sells  causes,  acting  on 
the  plan  of  the  government  in  ferreting  out  crime, 
employed  detectives,  and  soon  had  900  indictments 
against  liquor-dealers  ; and  cases  for  wronged  women 
and  children,  under  the  Adair  law,  covering  ^150,000. 

The  Liquor-Dealers’  and  Brewers’  Association  re- 
port, 1874,  5,969  prosecutions;  and  in  the  year  1875, 
4,207  prosecutions. 

Opposite  sections  of  Cleveland,  where  different 
praying  bands  labored,  show  varied  and  blessed  results 
of  the  work.  The  lower  part  of  the  city,  by  the  river 
dock,  where  saloons  were  thick,  and  sin  flaunted  itself, 
was  assigned  to  Mrs.  John  Coon,  a woman  of  wonder- 
ful faith  in  God,  and  great  strength  of  character,  and 
her  band  of  twenty  or  thirty  devoted  workers.  At 
first  they  were  refused  admittance  at  all,  or  nearly  all 
the  saloons,  but  one  dealer,  touched  by  her  kind  spirit, 
relented  and  sent  for  her  and  her  band  to  return.  He 
was  the  son  of  a clergyman,  finely  educated ; had  held 
a good  position  in  the  army,  and  been  successful  in 
business  till  he  began  travelling  for  a wholesale  grocery 
and  liquor  house  combined.  He  soon  went  into  the 
liquor  trade  for  himself;  and  the  descent  was  rapid  to 
the  keeper  of  a low  saloon  and  a debauchee.  Some 
days  after,  at  the  earnest  request  of  his  wife,  he  signed 
the  pledge,  and  gave  up  his  business.  Among  those 
present  in  the  saloon,  drinking  and  playing  cards,  was 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


159 


a friendless  and  prematurely  white-haired  man,  to 
whom  the  saloon-keeper  had  given  shelter.  Southern 
born,  a Colonel  in  the  Confederate  army,  a gentleman 
in  manner,  a member  of  the  press  in  honorable  stand- 
ing for  years,  becoming  addicted  to  drink,  then  gam- 
bling, he  left  his  wife  and  little  girl,  and  wandered 
from  city  to  city,  sinking  lower  and  lower,  a profane, 
broken-down  inebriate.  His  wife  had  spent  long  years 
in  searching  for  him,  one  year  using  ^700  of  her  own 
earnings  to  find  him;  but  at  last  had  given  him  up  as 
dead.  The  hymn  sung  by  the  praying  band  touched 
his  heart.  He  asked  for  one  sung  years  before  by  his 
mother,  and  joined  in  the  singing.  At  last  he  signed 
the  pledge,  and  was  taken  to  the  home  of  a generous 
citizen.  Here,  some  days  after,  wrestling  with  God 
one  whole  night  in  prayer,  he  found  peace  in  believing. 
Some  weeks  later  a letter  was  written  to  the  wife. 
She  fainted  when  she  read  it.  She  hurried  to  meet 
him  ; and  at  this  house,  in  the  presence  of  a hundred 
guests,  the  worn  wedding-ring  was  once  more  placed 
upon  her^  finger,  and  the  marriage  service,  touching 
and  beautiful,  again  repeated.  Mrs.  Coon  led  the 
exercises,  different  members  of  the  band  praying,  and 
singing  the  Crusade  hymns.  None  who  witnessed  it 
will  ever  forget  this  affecting  scene.  The  closed  saloon 
was  at  once  transformed  into  a clean  boarding  house 
called  the  River  Street  Friendly  Inn.  This  being  too 
small  for  the  crowds  who  gathered  at  the  meetings,  an 
adjoining  warehouse,  three  stories  high,  25  by  100  feet 
long,  was  rented,  the  lower  story  made  into  a dining- 
room, the  second  into  a reading-room  and  chapel,  and 


l6o  CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 

the  third  into  sleeping  apartments,  with  seven  neatly 
furnished  beds.  The  chapel  walls  are  decorated  with 
such  mottoes  as  “Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men;” 
“The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say.  Come;”  “Jesus  is  my 
only  Refuge.”  Each  day,  after  calling  at  the  saloons, 
a meeting  was  held  here  by  the  band,  who  often  re- 
paired to  the  river  docks  across  the  street,  and  there, 
where  as  many  as  a thousand  persons,  sailors  and 
others,  frequently  gathered,  these  godly  women  offered 
the  bread  of  life,  the  only  stire  safeguard  against  intem- 
perance. From  the  captains  of  the  boats,  the  praying 
women  received  the  kindest  attention.  A platform 
was  built  for  them  and  seats  provided. 

Following  these  afternoon  meetings,  a meeting  for 
inquirers  was  held  at  the  Inn.  Scores  of  men  would 
repair  thither,  more  sometimes  than  could  be  con- 
versed with  before  the  evening  meeting,  at  eight 
o’clock,  held  in  the  chapel.  How  many  found  Christ 
will  never  be  known  till  the  judgment  day  reveals  it. 
Very  few,  as  far  as  is  known,  have  fallen. 

A weekly  prayer-meeting  was  at  once  started,  with 
social  entertainment  for  other  evenings.  Both  these 
prayer-meetings  are  still  conducted  by  Mrs.  Coon  and 
her  band:  Mrs.  Hall,  Smith,  Noble,  Hanna,  Brayton, 
Preston,  Johnson,  Butts,  White,  Saunders,  Burridge, 
Mittleberger,  Chittenden,  and  others.  No  time  was 
wasted.  Testimony  is  borne  successively,  by  from 
eighty  to  one  hundred  men  recently  converted,  of  the 
power  of  God  to  keep  them  from  falling. 

River  street  is  a changed  locality.  The  saloons  have 
less  custom,  and  the  presence  of  the  praying  women 
Is  heartily  welcomed. 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND.  l6l 

Another  locality,  St.  Clair  street  and  its  surround- 
ings, was  assigned  to  Mrs.  Charles  Wheeler,  a woman 
loved  by  all ; the  friend  and  advocate  of  the  poor,  and 
well  fitted  for  this  field.  After  much  hard  work  and 
many  mass-meetings  sustained  by  her,  Mrs.  Stephens, 
Porter,  Detchon,  Greene,  Reese,  Gilbert,  Couis,  and 
others,  the  saloon  above  mentioned  was  opened  as  a 
Friendly  Inn,  under  the  control  of  Mrs.  George 
Worthington  and  Mrs.  Wheeler,  now  President  of  the 
Leaofne,  a devoted  woman  whose  wealth  has  been 
generously  given  for  the  cause.  Through  this  inn, 
families  have  been  reunited,  and  lost  ones  returned  to 
their  parents  and  their  God. 

Among  the  550  families  visited  the  past  year  about 
this  inn,  were  a father  and  mother  who  had  strayed 
from  the  fold.  The  father  had  become  intemperate. 
The  only  son  was  taken  ill.  The  temperance  women 
were  unremitting  in  their  care,  but  nothing  could  save 
him.  Their  hands  brought  flowers  for  his  burial,  their 
own  carriages  were  sent,  and  the  only  hope  of  his 
parents  was  laid  tenderly  away.  This  kindness  won 
the  father  back  to  rectitude,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
rejoicing  again  in  the  comforts  of  Christianity.  Besides 
the  Sunday  meeting,  a most  interesting  Bible  reading 
is  sustained  weekly  by  Miss  Andrews,  recently  our 
missionary  to  China;  and  a social  gathering  every 
Saturday  evening. 

Broadway  and  its  adjacent  streets,  a part  of  the 
city  where  thickly  settled  saloons  have  borne  bitter 
fruit,  was  given  to  Mrs.  W.  P.  Cooke,  a woman  of 
piety  and  ability.  Day  after  day  she,  with  Mrs.  Hill, 


i62 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


Brigham,  Morehouse,  Tagg,  Bowler,  Johnson,  Mudge, 
and  others,  did  heroic  and  blessed  work.  A Friendly 
Inn  resulted  from  these  labors,  under  the  directions  of 
Mrs.  Rev.  Duncan,  then  President  of  the  League. 
Mrs.  Cooke  being  ill  from  overwork,  to  Mrs.  Duncan’s 
executive  ability,  judgment,  and  spirituality,  the  Cru- 
sade, as  well  as  the  Friendly  Inn,  is  greatly  indebted. 
This  Inn,  made  from  two  stores,  each  44  feet  long  by 
20  feet  broad,  has  the  same  general  features  as  the 
others.  Mrs.  Duncan  havino^  removed  to  another 
city,  the  control  came  into  the  hands  of  Miss  Jennie 
Duty,  under  Ayhom  it  has  been  signally  blest. 

A young  lady  of  culture  and  indefatigable  as  a 
Christian  worker,  she  has  given  her  whole  time  and 
strength  to  the  work  since  the  Crusade  began.  She 
is  superintendent  at  the  Inn  of  a Sunday-school,  num- 
berinof  200  scholars,  and  is  instructor  of  the  Teachers’ 
Bible  Class,  held  every  hlonday  evening,  made  up 
largely  of  the  reformed  men.  A Sunday  meeting, 
not  excelled  in  interest  by  any  in  the  city,  is  conducted 
by  her,  Mrs.  Partridge,  Ford,  Cogswell,  Williams,  Tay- 
lor, Dutcher,  and  others, 'who  have  given  devoted 
service  to  the  cause.  A free  supper  is  given  to  hun- 
dreds every  Sabbath  evening.  The  rooms  are  crowded 
at  the  meetinsfs.  There  has  been  one  continuous  re- 
vival  for  over  two  years. 

The  past  winter  there  have  been  over  one  hundred 
conversions.  A young  woman,  among  others,  came 
to  the  meetings,  desiring  a different  life.  She  was  ill 
and  afraid  to  die.  After  a few  weeks  all  was  changed. 
The  aged  mother  watched  by  the  bedside  of  the 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND.  I 63 

daughter  she  loved,  now  happy  beyond  expression. 
Perhaps  no  little  room  was  ever  more  filled  with  the 
presence  of  the  Saviour.  After  death,  the  women 
who  had  told  her  how  to  find  her  Lord,  laid  her  away, 
prayed  at  her  open  grave,  and  went  back  to  their  work 
of  leading  others  up  higher. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  the  i6th  and  lyth 
wards,  where  the  temperance  element  is  strongest, 
the  bands  did  efficient  work.  On  the  17th  of  August, 
1874,  when  the  State,  after  an  intense  struggle  with 
the  freely  spent  money  and  influence  of  the  liquor 
power,  reiterated  her  vote  of  twenty  years  before,  of 
“No  license,”  the  praying  bands,  in  a booth  trimmed 
with  flowers  and  evergreens,  furnished  a dinner  to  the 
voters.  A morning  prayer-meeting,  started  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Crusade,  has  never  been  discon- 
tinued for  a single  day.  A union  temperance  prayer- 
meeting is  held  every  Sunday  afternoon,  which  is 
tcuion  indeed  and  full  of  spirit.  At  both  of  these, 
many  have  been  converted.  A temperance  reading- 
room  is  sustained,  mass-meetings  still  held,  and  the 
cause  kept  bright  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  The 
band  leaders  have  been  Mrs.  Ford — a noble,  Christian 
woman,  who  stepped  from  out  a quiet,  domestic  life  toi 
be  one  of  the  most  efficient — Mrs.  Bucher,  who  didi 
valuable  work  till  her  health  failed,  Mrs.  Sloan,  Colby,, 
Bolton,  and  others,  all  devoted  workers,  who  have  had, 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  their  work  bear  precious, 
fruit  already.  In  the  western  part  of  the  city,  where 
the  Crusaders  first  received  violence,  trusting  in  God, 
they  went  forward  fearlessly  to  duty.  Plundreds  of 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


164 

saloons  were  visited,  some  wayward  ones  converted, 
and  public  sentiment  wonderfully  elevated.  The 
leaders  in  this  work,  that  had  the  seal  of  martyrdom, 
were  Mrs.  Brecken ridge,  a brave,  true,  earnest  woman, 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Delamater,  Sheldon,  Chapman,  Ingham, 
Lee,  McKinney,  Stork,  A.  H.  Delamater,  Janes,  Jones, 
Redington,  Story,  Mrs.  Cheney,  and  others. 

A Friendly  Inn  has  recently  been  started  here. 
Beautiful  mottoes  adorn  the  walls,  and  evervthine 
invites  to  temperance  and  virtue.  At  its  head  is  Mrs. 
W.  A.  Ingham,  to  whose  energy,  courage,  and  devo- 
tion the  Crusade  owes  much  of  its  effectiveness.  She 
had  charge  of  all  the  praying  bands,  laid  out  the 
part  of  each,  and  with  the  skill  of  an  able  officer, 
carried  through  a vigorous  warfare  against  a mighty 
enemy. 

In  still  another  portion  of  the  city,  the  i8th  ward,  for- 
merly Newburgh,  efficient  work  was  done  under  the  able 
leadership  of  Mrs.  Rev.  Curtiss,  Foote,  Palmer,  Slade, 
and  others,  before  the  Crusade  work  was  undertaken 
elsewhere  in  the  city.  A centre  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron  and  steel,  the  saloon-keepers  knew  well  where 
to  build  to  tempt  the  workingmen.  With  great  energy 
and  persistence,  the  good  women  have  held  temper- 
ance meetings  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  in  the  sum- 
mers in  the  open  air,  have  speakers  from  abroad  often, 
and  have  now  a renovated  saloon,  “ a home,”  of  their 
own.  It  is  sustained  by  monthly  contributions,  none 
over  one  dollar,  some  as  small  as  ten  cents.  They 
have  nicely  furnished  eating  and  sleeping  rooms,  with 
an  apartment  above  which  will  seat  over  a hundred 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


165 

persons.  Their  social  gatherings,  intended  to  offer 
an  attraction  other  than  saloons  to  young  men,  are  so 
largely  patronized  that  they  have  been  obliged  to  re- 
pair to  a large  hall,  where  five  cents  admission  is 
charged,  and  the  least  they  have  taken  at  the  door  is 
^9.45,  usually  three  times  that  amount.  The  pledge 
is  offered  at  all  these  meetings.  They  are  now  visit- 
inof  those  who  drink  or  have  drunkenness  in  their 
families.  “ I wish  I could  say,”  writes  their  earnest 
and  efficient  secretary,  Mrs.  Foote,  “to  every  feeble, 
half-dead  League,  no  matter  how  small  the  town,  hoAV 
few  the  workers,  start  a home,  a little  central  place, 
from  which  in  every  direction  temperance  sentiment 
shall  radiate.  It  will  prove  to  the  League  what  a home 
is  to  the  family.”  Its  chief  workers  are  Mrs.  Palmer, 
Bes,  Slade,  Morgan,  Fish,  Brown,  Morton,  Gladding, 
Way,  and  others. 

Other  band-leaders  and  efficient  workers  in  other 
parts  of  the  city  deserve  especial  and  honorable  men- 
tion. Mrs.  Joseph  Perkins,  Adams,  Strong,  Sheppard, 
Lockwood,  Whitney,  Thomas,  Starkweather,  Stewart, 
Morgan,  Hanna,  Rose,  Burge,  Bradley,  Southworth, 
Williamson,  Witt,  Canfield,  Stone,  Sachell,  Flerr, 
Pope,  Wright,  Nyce,  Castle,  Benton,  Hicky,  Porter, 
Ely,  Talbott,  Flart,  Stebbins,  Butcher,  Doty,  Warren, 
Excell,  Prather,  Dissette,  Mason,  Edwards,  Hinsdale, 
Stevens,  Galbraith,  Ingersoll,  Massey,  Erancisco,  and 
many  others.  When  hundreds  have  given  time  and 
strength  and  life  itself  for  the  cause,  it  is  impossible  to 
write  them  all  on  paper. 

God  keeps  the  record  and  a grand  record  it  is. 


CRUSADE  AT  CLEVELAND. 


1 66 

Another  result  of  the  temperance  movement  has 
been  the  formation  of  the  Young  Ladies’  Temperance 
League,  numbering  hundreds  of  the  best  young  women 
of  the  city,  pledged  to  discourage  the  use  of  wine,  beer, 
and  distilled  liquors,  and  not  to  furnish  them  for  social 
entertainment.  Its  president.  Miss  Flora  Stone,  only 
sister  of  the  wife  of  John  Hay,  loves  the  work,  and 
gives  herself  unreservedly  to  it.  The  moral  weight 
of  such  an  association  cannot  be  overestimated.  Tem- 
perance work  soon  led  them  to  see  that  there  was  more 
of  sorrow  in  the  world  than  they  had  ever  supposed. 
Their  hearts  turned  toward  those  of  their  own  sex 
less  favored  than  themselves.  A desirable  house  was 
rented,  made  attractive,  and  matron  employed.  Their 
object  is  to  furnish  temporary  relief  to  poor,  friendless 
girls,  and  help  them  in  some  way  to  provide  for  their 
own  support.  Since  its  opening,  1 24  young  women 
have  been  received,  and  retained,  on  an  average,  eleven 
days  each;  270  have  been  assisted  to  employment. 
Homes  for  several  young  girls  have  been  found,  where 
they  can  have  an  education.  Sewing  is  furnished  to 
those  needing  it,  and  the  garments  sold. 

A temperance  fete  was  held  by  the  League,  from 
which  f)i,ooo  was  realized.  Similar  gatherings  keep 
the  work  before  the  people,  and  popularize  the  cause. 
Prominent  in  this  League  have  been  Mrs.  Lovds,  In- 
gersoll.  Fuller,  Younglove,  Prentiss,  Hall,  Andrews, 
and  many  others.  Much  work  is  done  among  the 
children. 

A new  eeueration  trained  in  the  belief  that  the  use 
of  intoxicants  is  a will  change  most  effectually  the 


CRUSADE  AT  MILLERSBURG. 


167 


habits  of  society.  Temperance  literature,  showing  the 
effects  of  whiskey  or  beer  as  beverages,  and  the  total 
disuse  of  them  as  medicines  by  many  of  the  best  phy- 
sicians, showing  the  duty  of  the  church  on  this  ques- 
tion, is  being  extensively  circulated.  Cities,  countries. 
States,  and  counties  are  being  thoroughly  organized; 
and  the  women  of  Cleveland  uniting  with  them,  abat- 
ing none  of  their  interest,  still  holding  over  twenty 
gospel  temperance  meetings  weekly,  are  working  and 
praying  and  waiting  for  the  Master  to  give  the  victory 
over  evil. 

MILLERSBURG,  OHIO. 

The  temperance  movements  of  the  ladies  of  Millers- 
burg  was  inaugurated  by  meetings  at  private  houses, 
from  time  to  time.  During  the  month  of  January,  1874, 
mass-meetings  were  held,  pledges  were  presented,  by 
comrnittees  appointed  to  visit  every  house  and  place 
of  business  in  the  town. 

Prayer-meetings  were  held  daily,  alternately  at  the 
different  churches,  for  two  or  three  weeks,  preceding 
the  commencement  of  the  street  work.  On  the  19th 
of  February,  1874,  the  first  regular  visiting  of  the 
saloons  was  begun.  At  that  time  ten  saloons,  and 
three  drug  stores,  comprised  the  number  of  places 
demanding  attention. 

At  first  we  were  allowed  to  enter  all  of  these  places. 
In  addition  to  singing  and  prayers,  personal  appeals 
were  made  to  the  proprietors,  and  selections  of  Scrip- 
ture read  in  their  hearing.  The  proprietors  of  the 
three  drug  stores  signed  the  pledge ; after  the  first 
visit,  regular  visits  were  made,  almost  daily,  until  the 


CRUSADE  AT  ZANESVILLE. 


I 68 

middle  of  April,  by  which  time  all  the  saloons  but  four 
were  closed. 

These  were  all  kept  by  Germans.  A strong  effort 
was  made  to  elect  municipal  officers,  at  the  spring 
election,  who  would  enact  the  McConnelsville  ordi- 
nance. In  this,  we  were  unsuccessful. 


WORK  IN  ZANESVILLE,  OHIO. 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Ohe,  in  the  Moj'ning,  says : The  wave  of 
temperance  agitation  did  not  reach  the  staid  city  of 
Zanesville  till  most  of  the  neiMiborine  towns  and  the 
country  communities  had  been  thoroughly  aroused. 

Early  in  March,  1874,  the  first  meetings,  called  in 
Second  Street  M.  E.  Chapel,  enlisted  the  deep  sym- 
pathy of  the  women  of  the  city ; and  here,  as  in  so 
many  cases  elsewhere,  those  the  most  shrinking,  un- 
known to  public  effort  of  any  kind,  became  the  most 
efficient  and  inspiring  leaders.  The  first  organized 
effort  was  toward  the  enactment  of  a municipal  law 
to  restrain  and  prohibit  a certain  low  class  of  tippling 
shops.  Petitions  were  circulated  through  every  ward 
— many  of  the  first  women  of  society  going  from  shop 
to  shop,  urging  signatures,  and  obtaining  them,  too, 
where  men  would  have  utterly  failed. 

The  petition  was  more  than  eighty  feet  long,  and 
contained  nearly  5,000  names.  The  city  council, 
strongly  influenced  by  this  demonstration  of  senti- 
ment, passed  the  law.  During  the  six  months  it  was 
well  enforced,  the  drinking  shops  decreased  in  number 
from  1 18  to  50.  Many  of  those  retaining  licenses 


CRUSADE  AT  ZANESVILLE,  1 69 

reported  greatly  diminished  sales,  and  “a  gratifying 
scarcity  of  victims  of  the  police  courts  was  another 
feature  of  the  change.”  On  the  4th  of  July,  1874,  not- 
withstanding it  was  a general  holiday,  and  in  this 
manufacturing  community,  not  07ie  case  ^drunkenness 
on  the  streets  was  noticed,  nor  any  arrests.  If  only 
the  men  of  the  place  had  stood  firmly  to  theh-  work,  as 
conservators  of  the  public  good,  these  benefits  would 
have  been  permanent.  But  some  reaction  took  place, 
and  a fort  so  strongly  intrenched  was  not  to  be  dis- 
lodged by  one  year’s  siege.  At  the  very  outset  of  this 
movement,  the  Liquor  Dealers’  Association,  under  the 
lead  of  a notorious  wholesale  dealer,  put  forth  a most 
offensive  and  insulting  manifesto,  threatening  to  ostra- 
cise all  citizens  whose  wives  were  identified,  etc.,  etc., 
the  sole  effect  of  which  was  to  rouse  the  men  to  sup- 
port the  women  gallaiitly. 

But  little  “ Crusading”  on  the  public  streets  was 
done  ; the  members  of  the  League  preferring  to  go 
quietly,  in  twos  or  threes,  to  interview  the  dealers,  and 
with  very  few  exceptions,  they  met  courteous  treat- 
ment, and  felt  assured  that  their  visits  would  bear  good 
fruit. 

One  of  the  most  estimable  women  of  our  city,  as  the 
leader  of  a band  of  six  or  seven,  was  arrested,  (under 
the  ordinance  against  obstructing  the  streets,)  by  com- 
plaint of  a woman  who  had  for  years  kept  open  a 
drinking  place,  the  terror  of  the  neighborhood.  Under 
the  protecting  aegis  of  the  Dealers’  Association,  she 
appeared  in  court  to  annihilate  the  offending  Cru- 
saders. But  here,  as  in  so  many  other  cases,  the 


170 


CRUSADE  AT  PAINESVILLE. 


cause  visibly  triumphed,  and  the  irate  madam  departed 
breathing  threatenings.  The  whole  scene  in  the  court 
was  “ one  for  a painting.” 

Mrs.  H.  G.  O.  Carey,  writing  June  6th,  1876,  says; 
“ I believe  no  city  of  its  size  in  the  State,  accomplished 
a more  thorough  closing  of  the  saloons  than  did  Zanes- 
ville. For  seven  months  no  one  could  get  a glass  of 
beer  in  the  city,  except  by  stealth ; and  in  real  fear  of 
prosecution,  our  dealers  became  very  cautious.  The 
internal  revenue  office  showed  that  sales  were  re- 
duced during  all  that  time,  until  the  repeal  of  the  ordi- 
nance, forty  to  forty-seven  per  cent.  The  improvement 
in  morals  was  most  apparent:  a public  sentiment’ was 
created  which  made  it  possible  to  punish  the  guilty. 
Our  work  was  almost  entirely  done  by  small  parties  on 
the  alert  everywhere,  supported  by  constant  prayer 
and  faith  in  God.  League  prayer-meetings  have  never 
been  omitted  to  this  day,  and  I believe  no  man  either 
drinks,  or  sells  liquor  of  any  kind  without  compunctions 
of  conscience  to  which  formerly  he  was  a stranger.” 

It  was  in  this  town  that  a young  lady,  connected  v/ith 
one  of  the  bands  visiting  the  saloons,  said,  when  re- 
proved for  doing  so  : “ Where  my  brother  goes  to  drink, 
I certainly  ought  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  pray.” 

PAINESVILLE,  OHIO. 

We  have  gathered  the  followinsf  facts  from  the 

o o 

Painesville  papers  published  at  the  time : 

Pursuant  to  a call  for  a “ Temperance  Mass-Meet- 
incr,”  the  larg-e  audience-room  of  the  Conp-regational 
Church  was  filled  to  overflowinof. 


CRUSADE  AT  PAINESVILLE. 


171 

The  audience  numbered  over  one  thousand  of  our 
best  people,  and  showed  by  the  deep  interest  mani- 
fested that  the  “ tidal  wave  ” had  indeed  reached  this 
place. 

Rev.  T.  R.  Peters  offered  prayer,  and  was  followed 
by  able  speakers. 

At  the  ladies’  meeting,  on  Tuesday  morning,  there 
was  a ver}^  large  attendance.  After  singing  and  pray- 
ers, addresses  were  made  by  several  ministers  of 
Painesville. 

The  ladies  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  are  still  engaged 
in  active  service. 

One  evening,  at  eight  o’clock,  they  formed  into  three 
large  bands,  at  the  church,  and  went  by  three  different 
routes  to  three  of  the  largest  saloons. 

The  first,  led  by  Mrs.  Plitchcock,  was  received,  and 
held  a good  meeting  among  the  crowd  of  billiard 
players. 

The  second,  led’  by  Mrs.  Curtis,  not  gaining  admis- 
sion, held  a meeting  on  the  sidewalk. 

The  third  entered  Stacy’s  and  commenced  services. 
During  prayer  the  doors  were  locked  and  the  keys  re- 
moved ; a hot  fire  was  built,  and  pepper  thrown  liber- 
ally on  the  stove,  the  fumes  of  which  made  the  place 
almost  intolerable. 

But  the  songs  and  prayers  were  exultant,  triumph- 
ant, and  the  appeals  to  the  bar-tender  very  feeling  and 
earnest. 

Their  songs  were  heard  a square  away.  Friends 
came  and  released  them,  after  having  one  of  the  best 
meetings  they  ever  held. 


172  CRUSADE  AT  PAINESVILLE. 

They  had  a list  of  twenty-eight  saloons  furnished 
them.  Four  of  these  they  found  had  quit  the  business 
in  consequence  of  fines  imposed  by  the  court.  Every- 
where they  met  with  a courteous  reception.  They 
were  evidently  expected:  some  had  waited  more  than 
a week  for  them,  some  had  expected  a larger  band, 
but  liked  this  better.  No  doubt  they  did.  Most  of 
the  saloons  were  as  clean  as  soap  and  water  could 
make  them,  and  often  not  a thing  could  be  seen  at  the 
bar  more  contraband  than  a box  of  segars.  In  fact, 
if  we  may  believe  the  word  of  the  dealers,  there  did 
not  seem  to  be  a place  in  Painesville  where  whiskey 
or  rum  could  be  bought  to  be  drunk  on  the  premises. 
Everything  is  claimed  to  be  done  strictly  according 
to  law. 

Nearly  every  one  wished  himself  out  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  would  be  Mad  to  sell  out  at  a fair  valuation  ; 
but  very  naturally,  none  were  ready  yet  to  sacrifice 
their  property  for  the  public  welfare. 

At  McEarland  & Hazen’s  saloon,  they  were  kindly 
received.  Spectators  were  excluded,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded to  hold  a prayer-meeting.  At  the  close  of  the 
exercises  the  pledge  was  presented  to  Mr.  McEarland, 
which  he  refused  to  sign  ; but  said  he  would  be  willing 
to  close  if  any  one  would  take  their  lease  off  their 
hands,  but  they  w'ere  paying  much  more  than  the 
rooms  would  rent  for,  for  other  business. 

They  next  visited  Mr.  Hennessey’s  saloon.  He 
said  he  would  be  Mad  to  leave  a business  of  which  he 

O 

is  ashamed,  as  soon  as  he  could  find  another  business 
opening. 


CRUSADE  AT  PAINESVILLE, 


173 


At  Mr.  Rochat’s  bakery,  the  meeting  was  a very 
affecting  one.  He  and  his  wife  seemed  almost  per- 
suaded. He  also  had  a bar,  and  said  he  had  been 
trained  to  the  business,  and  knowing  no  other,  could 
not  sign,  and  thus  throw  himself  out  of  employment, 
and  people  would  not  buy  the  lunch  without  the  beer. 
But  on  their  next  visit,  after  prayers  and  singing, 
and  while  they  were  deeply  affected,  Mr.  Rochat  and 
Ids  wife  yielded  so  far  as  to  pledge  themselves  to  sell 
no  liquor  for  the  space  of  one  month,  and  never  to  do 
so  if  he  could  support  his  family  by  his  legitimate  busi- 
ness, and  gave  them  permission  to  pour  the  liquor  he 
had  on  hand  into  the  street.  There  was  deep  feeling 
over  the  occurrence,  and  all  felt  that  God  had  heard 
and  answered  prayer.  Seven  or  eight  ladies  laid  hold 
of  the  cask,  carried  it  up-stairs  to  the  pavement,  and 
amid  much  rejoicing  and  enthusiasm  poured  the  liquor 
into  the  street. 

Messrs.  Warner,  Garfield  & Jewell,  of  the  Cowles 
Hou  se  and  Brewery,  said  their  capital  was  invested  in 
the  business,  and  no  business  man  would  expect  them 
to  sacrifice  this  without  compensation.  They  would 
be  glad  to  sell  out  the  brewery,  and  stop  both  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  liquors.  When  they  entered 
this  business,  it  was  considered  as  respectable  as  any 
other,  but  public  sentiment  had  changed,  and  now  it 
was  difficult  to  find  a purchaser.  If  our  public-spirited 
men  would  make  a stock  company,  and  convert  the 
brewery  into  a tannery,  for  which  it  was  well  suited, 
they  would  sell  for  ^5,000  less  than  its  appraised  value, 
and  also  take  stock  in  the  new  business. 


174 


CRUSADE  AT  PAINESVILLE. 


Mrs.  SuHivant,  who  opened  a saloon  near  the  depot, 
admitted  that  it  was  a bad  business — a lazy  business, 
but  said  her  husband  might  as  well  have  his  liquor 
at  home  Avhere  she  could  watch  him,  as  elsewhere  and 
keep  her  going  after  him.  She  refused  them  admit- 
tance, so  they  held  a prayer-meeting  in  the  yard.  Mr. 
Babbitt,  of  the  bakery,  said  he  could  not  think  of  sign- 
ing our  dealer’s  pledge,  as  one  barrel  of  beer\\3.s  worth 
more  to  him  in  his  business  than  ien  bari'els  of  flour 
made  up  into  bakery  products,  and  so  refused  to  admit 
them,  but  they  held  their  prayer-meeting  on  the  side- 
walk in  front  of  his  bakery. 

The  dealers  near  the  depot  claimed  that  their  pat- 
ronage came  mostly  from  the  road,  that  they  spent 
more  money  in  Painesville  than  they  took  from  it,  and 
they  would  not  be  controlled  by  the  people  of  the 
place. 

At  the  close  of  an  interesting  meeting  Mr.  Dayton 
pledged  himself  never  to  sell  another  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating drink.  The  women  were  hopeful,  as  the  fol- 
lowing will  show:  “Our  hopes  for  the  future  are 
great.  It  is  not  with  us,  as  I have  heard  it  said,  ‘.T 
noble  impulse  sheltered  behind  a because,’  but  an  ear- 
nest resolve,  born  of  much  thought  and  prayer  and 
self-consecration.” 

This  reminds  us  of  an  incident  that  occurred  in 
Columbus. 

John  had  stayed  at  home  to  take  care  of  bab}^  while 
Mary  was  praying  in  the  saloons,  and  when  she  came 
back  John  says,  “ Well,  Mary,  the  baby  has  cried  all 
the  time  you  were  gone;  I don’t  know  but  it’s  all 


CRUSADE  AT  ASHLAND, 


175 


right,  but  home  isn’t  what  it  used  to  be  when  you 
stayed  at  home.”  “Well,  John,”  Mary  answered,  “it  is 
better  that  baby  should  cry  for  me  now  than  that  I 
should  cry  for  baby  twenty  years  hence.” 

It  has  been  emphatically  true  of  women,  that  feeling- 
little  responsibility  beyond  home,  their  prayers  have 
not  gone  out  largely  for  others.  We  must  all  be 
better  patriots,  as  well  as  Christians  and  philan-' 
thropists, 

ASHLAND,  OHIO. 

The  Crusade  terminated  here  after  four  days  only 
of  street  work,  and  nothing  of  special  interest,  other 
than  the  one  ureat  cause  for  which  the  ladies  labored, 
transpired. 

There  were  f:ve  saloons,  three  drug  stores,  two 
hotels,  and  one  billiard  room  where  drink  was  sold. 
The  druggists  signed  on  the  first  presentation.  The 
saloonists  h.ad  determined  to  resist  their  prayers  and 
pleadings,  and  vrere  under  the  leadership  of  one  of 
their  number,  a man  of  influence  in  the  German 
church,  who  kept  the  most  respectable  place  in  town;  a 
place  where  the  young  men  congregated,  and  where 
many  of  the  older  ones  found  it  pleasant  to  linger. 
He  was  the  only  one  who  refused  the  ladies  admit- 
tance, compelling  them  to  sing  and  pray  upon  the 
pavement  before  his  door.  He  was  the  man  whom 
they  expected  would  be  the  last  to  yield.  A man 
of  iron  will,  they  expected  to  besiege  him  daily,  per- 
haps for  weeks ; they  looked  for  insult  and  abuse, 
yet  he  was  the  first  to  sign  a petition  presented  by  a 
score  of  our  citizens,  (some  of  them  in  the  habit  of 


176  CRUSADE  AT  BELLEVUE. 

visiting  his  saloon,)  asking  him  to  discontinue  the 
traffic.  When  he  signed,  all  the  rest  were  ready  to 
siofn  also. 

One  saloonist  has  opened  a grocery’,  another  has 
bouofht  a stock  of  boots  and  shoes,  a third  is  lookinor 
for  a farm,  in  the  meantime  has  left  his  old  quarters 
entirely,  one  (a  woman)  keeps  a restaurant,  and  he 
whom  they  feared  most  of  all,  confines  himself  exclu- 
sively to  his  grocery  trade.  The  conquest  was  easy 
and  complete. 

BELLEVUE,  OHIO. 

There  were  several  unconditional  surrenders  in 
Bellevue,  none  of  which  present  any  features  of  strik- 
ing interest.  West  received  the  committee  pleasantly, 
and  acknowledged  that  he  did  not  approve  of  the  busi- 
ness. Two  days  afterward,  when  the  ladies  called  on 
him  in  a body,  he  told  them  he  would  quit  in  a day  or 
two,  and  sign  the  pledge,  but  was  not  prepared  to  do 
so  at  that  time. 

The  next  day  he  sent  word  to  the  association  that 
he  was  prepared  to  surrender  his  liquor  and  sign  the 
pledge,  -vvhich  he  did.  Four  kegs  of  wine  and  one  of 
beer  were  thrown  into  the  street ; his  whiskey  was 
sent  back.  He  and  his  wife  attended  several  of  the 
mass-meetings,  and  took  a share  in  the  league  fund. 
He  afterwards  found  the  Saviour,  and  commenced  a 
better  life.  He  looks  like  a new  man. 

Mr.  Ailer  also  received  the  committee  when  they 
called  in  a body  in  much  the  same  way  as  did  West, 
and  the  next  day  sent  word  that  he  wished  a conversa- 
tion with  Mrs.  Goodson  and  Mrs.  Sawseer.  He  felt 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


177 


willing  to  close  out,  but  did  not  feel  able  to  throw  away 
his  liquors : said  he  would  send  back  all  he  could  if 
the  society  would  pay  him  for  the  rest. 

After  considerable  persuasion  he  agreed  to  sign  the 
pledge  the  next  day,  which  he  did,  throwing  away  nine 
gallons  of  blackberry  wine,  twenty-nine  gallons  of 
cherry  wine,  three  of  gin,  seven  of  whiskey,  and  two 
barrels  of  ale. 

Seth  Cook  was  a young  man,  just  married,  and  all 
he  had  was  invested  in  a billiard-room  and  tables.  He 
told  the  committee,  at  first,  that  he  was  bitterly  sick  of 
the  business,  and  was  willing  to  sign  the  pledge  and 
throw  away  his  liquors,  if  he  knew  what  disposition  to 
make  of  the  rooms.  He  allowed  the  ladies  to  come 
whenever  they  chose,  and  was  respectful. 

After  two  calls  he  sent  word  that  he  had  concluded 
to  throw  away  his  liquors,  which  he  did. 

BUCYRUS,  OHIO. 

The  account  of  the  work  at  Bucyrus  is,  in  its  detail 
of  events,  almost  verbally  copied  from  the  weekly  nar- 
rative in  the  Bucyrus  Journal.  The  editor  of  this 
paper  was,  in  sentiment,  opposed  to  the  Crusade,  but 
he  defended  the  ladies  in  their  heroic  sacrifices.  An- 
ticipating that  hereafter  the  Crusade  would  form  a 
most  important  era  in  our  social  history,  he  was  careful 
to  publish  in  his  paper,  from  week  to  week,  a most  ac- 
curate, impartial,  and  detailed  history  of  the  movement, 
giving  everything  of  importance  concerning  it. 

Bucyrus,  a town  of  four  thousand  inhabitants,  is  sit- 
uated in  the  northern  part  of  Ohio,  on  the  Pittsburgh, 
12 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


I 78 

Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroad.  It  is  the  county- 
seat  of  Crawford,  a county  which  obtained  a national 
notoriety  by  the  treasonable  actions  and  sentiments  of 
a portion  of  its  citizens,  during  the  late  war  of  the  re- 
bellion. This  place  was  the  scene  of  more  ruffianly 
disorder,  and  the  ladies  suffered  more  abuse  at  the 
hands  of  the  saloon-keepers  and  their  friends,  during 
the  Crusade,  than  in  any  other  town  in  the  State.  Bucy- 
rus  contained  at  the  time  of  the  Crusade  eight  churches 
— four  English  and  four  German.  The  Presbyterian, 
Lutheran,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Baptist,  and  German 
Methodist  Churches,  and  a few  of  the  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church,  joined  in  the  work  of  this 
great  reform  movement,  and  the  bond  of  union  be- 
tween them  was  never  so  strong  as  when,  in  a com- 
bined effort,  the  members  of  these  churches  united 
against  their  strongest  enemy — the  liquor  traffic.  The 
German  Lutheran,  German  Catholic,  and  most  of  the 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  Churches,  sympa- 
thized with  the  saloon-keepers,  and  aided  and  encour- 
aged them  by  their  counsel  and  influence.  When  the 
Crusade  was  first  inaugurated,  the  town  contained 
twenty  saloons,  one  brewery,  and  one  wholesale  liquor 
establishment  and  sample-room.  Before  the  street- 
work  was  discontinued  by  the  ladies,  the  wholesale 
establishment  and  four  of  the  saloons  had  quit  the 
business. 

On  Monday  evening,  March  2d,  1874,  a public  meet- 
ing was  held  at  Rowse’s  Hall,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  advisability  of  inaugurating  the  Crusade  at 
Bucyrus.  The  hall  was  crowded,  and  great  enthusiasm 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


179 


prevailed.  A committee,  composed  of  two  from  each 
church  in  the  place,  was  appointed  to  prepare  a plan 
by  which  to  conduct  the  temperance  movement  in 
Bucyrus,  and  this  committee  reported  at  a second 
meeting,  which  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
March  9th.  The  report  made  contained  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted  with  great  applause : 

^'Resolved,  Inasmuch  as  the  efforts  of  the  women 
have  proven  the  most  efficient  means,  under  God,  of 
closing  the  saloons  in  many  places  where  they  are 
organized  and  at  work,  we  therefore  pledge  to  the 
ladies  of  our  town  our  sympathy  and  hearty  co-opera- 
tion at  any  time  they  deem  it  proper  to  inaugurate  the 
movement  here.” 

Saturday,  March  7th,  the  saloon-keepers  and  their 
friends  held  a meeting,  at  which  they  resolved  to  lock 
their  doors  when  the  women  came  around,  and,  at  the 
approaching  spring  elections,  to  vote  for  no  man  who 
favored  this  temperance  reform.  The  conversation  of 
this  meeting  was  mostly  in  German  ; many  were  ex- 
cluded from  it,  and  the  proceedings  were  kept  as 
secret  as  possible.  March  9th,  they  held  another 
meeting,  and  resolved  to  issue  a printed  card,  pledg- 
ing themselves,  hereafter,  to  conform  strictly  to  the  law, 
and  they  drew  up  a pledge  to  this  effect,  which  all  the 
saloon-keepers,  twenty  in  number,  signed. 

Tuesday  morning,  March  loth,  a committee,  com- 
posed of  two  ladies  from  each  church,  was  appointed 
to  organize  the  ladies,  and  every  afternoon  during  the 
week  they  assembled  for  prayer.  March  14th,  the 
druggists  were  visited,  and  asked  to  sign  the  druggists’ 


l8o  CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 

pledge.  Two  of  them  consented,  the  third  refused 
The  saloon-keepers  were  also  visited,  and  asked  to 
quit,  but  without  success.  Every  evening,  union  tem- 
perance meetings  were  held  at  the  different  churches, 
and  numbers  signed  the  pledge. 

Tuesday  morning,  March  17th,  an  immense  crowd 
gathered  at  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  upon  the  streets 
were  many  scattered  groups  of  restless  citizens,  wEo, 
by  their  constant  uneasiness,  would  have  betrayed  to 
a stranger  that  something  unusual  was  transpiring, 
even  if  it  had  not  been  well  known  that  the  women 
were  about  to  appear.  Promptly  at  ten  o’clock  the 
church  bell  beo-an  to  toll,  and  forth  from  the  church 
came  one  hundred  ladies,  among  whom  Avere  those, 
who,  for  their  unaffected  piety,  for  their  exemplary 
lives,  and  by  the  position  and  character  of  their  hus- 
bands, were  the  very  first  w^omen  of  the  community. 
By  special  invitation  of  the  proprietors,  the  ladies  first 
visited  the  saloon  of  Everett  & Ricketts,  who  were  at 
that  time  making  arrangements  to  close  their  business, 
as  the  lease  of  the  room  they  were  occupying  had 
been  refused  them  for  another  year.  The  ladies  were 
refused  entrance  to  several  of  the  saloons,  but  Avere 
treated  politely  by  the  saloon-keepers.  While  they 
were  holding  their  exercises  in  front  of  Jahn’s,  some 
of  the  German  Avomen  Avho  Avere  lookingf  on  made 
some  very  objectionable  remarks  in  German.  While 
the  second  prayer  AA'as  being  offered  in  front  of  Bieber’s, 
a young  man,  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  spoke 
loudly  and  said,  “ Pray,  God  d — n you,  pray!  Jesus 
Christ!  Avhy  don’t  you  pray  louder?”  But  Avhen  he 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


l8l 


saw  the  marshal  approaching,  he  stopped  his  oaths. 
Some  of  the  saloon-keepers  were  visibly  moved  when 
the  friends  and  companions  of  their  youth,  knelt  before 
them  and  offered  fervent  prayers  for  their  wives  and 
children. 

The  second  day,  Wednesday,  March  i8th,  the  ladies 
continued  their  good  work,  and  the  crowds  around  the 
saloons  were  quiet  and  orderly  until  late  in  the  after- 
noon, when  they  were  in  front  of  Mollenkopf’s.  The 
proprietor  of  this  saloon  had  a musical  clock,  which 
was  wound  up  and  started  as  the  ladies  approached, 
and  a large  crowd  of  men  and  boys  assembled  in  the 
saloon  and  commenced  to  sing,  and  the  prayers  of  the 
ladies  were  drowned  by  these  indecent  noises  ; but  one 
of  the  ladies  beautifully  reported : 

“We  felt  in  our  hearts  that  our  prayers  reached  His 
ear  to  whom  they  were  addressed,  and  it  seemed  as  if 
the  sound  of  those  noble,  manly  voices  in  so  bad  a 
cause,  only  made  us  the  more  anxious  to  labor  for  their 
conversion,  and  to  pray  that  some  day  they  might  be 
heard  in  prayer  and  praise.” 

This  sort  of  a reception  only  strengthened  the  ladies 
to  more  earnest  devotions.  Soon  a good  woman 
offered  a prayer  in  German,  and  instantly  all  noise 
within  ceased,  showing  that  the  hearts  of  those  men 
were  not  utterly  hardened,  and  that  they  had  tender 
memories  of  woman’s  dear  voice  raised  in  the  tones 
of  fatherland  to  the  Father  of  all,  and  every  noble 
woman  outside  felt  encouraged.  Even  the  unseemly 
riot  and  song  thus  proved  a blessing,  for  it  was  followed 
by  such  a strange  stillness,  that  the  calm  seemed  holy, 


i82 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


and  the  prayers  glowed  with  increased  fervor,  and 
every  heart  beat  in  unison  ; and  at  the  next  saloon  the 
exercises  were  so  unusually  fervent  that  one  of  the 
ladies  afterwards  reported : 

“ It  seemed  as  if  each  of  us  sensibly  realized  that 
God  was  supporting  us,  and  sending  His  Holy  Spirit 
to  comfort  and  sustain  us.” 

The  exercises  under  such  influences  impressed  the 
careless  bystanders  with  a solemnity  exceeding  any- 
thing previously  experienced.  During  the  time  the 
ladies  were  on  the  streets,  a prayer-meeting  was  in 
constant  progress  at  the  church. 

March  19th  and  20th,  the  ladies  continued  their 
exercises  at  the  different  saloons  without  any  disturb- 
ance, and  were  either  kindly  treated  by  such  of  the 
saloon-keepers  as  admitted  them,  or  ignored  by  the 
majority,  who  closed  their  saloons  when  the  women 
approached. 

Saturday  evening,  March  21st,  while  a band  was 
holdinor  relimous  exercises  in  front  of  Donnenwirth’s, 
the  proceedings  in  the  saloon  were  very  boisterous. 
Two  women  were  inside,  and  several  men,  and  their 
actions  were  such  as  to  demonstrate  the  effects  of  the 
saloon  business  in  a style  not  calculated  to  elevate  it 
in  public  estimation. 

Monday,  March  23d,  the  weather  was  cold  and  raw. 
In  the  morning  the  women,  in  bands  of  four,  visited 
various  places  and  people  and  labored  in  the  work  of 
the  great  reform  without  any  street  exercises.  In  the 
afternoon  they  were  out  in  three  bands.  Tuesday 
morning  a German  saloon-keeper  and  baker  named 


ELIZABETH  COMSTOCK. 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


183 


Pfleiderer  admitted  the  ladies  to  his  parlor  and  then 
stood  at  the  door,  and,  representing  to  the  ladies  that 
he  had  been  injured  in  his  business,  by  reports  that 
had  been  circulated  about  his  having  struck  and  kicked 
one  of  them,  refused  to  let  them  out  until  it  had  been 
proved  that  the  report  was  without  foundation. 

On  the  morning  of  March  25th,  William  Shaw,  a 
candidate  for  street  commissioner  for  the  third  term, 
in  order  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the  saloons,  placed 
himself  in  front  of  a praying  band  at  Hesche’s  and 
commenced  a loud  and  blasphemous  harangue  and 
prayer  in  which  vulgar  allusions  and  oaths  were  min- 
gled, to  the  horror  of  every  respectable  person.  The 
scene  was  awful,  and  involuntarily  excited  in  the  minds 
of  many  an  expectation  that  such  a bold,  bad,  blasphe- 
mous man  would  be  struck  dead  for  his  startling 
defiance  of  the  living  God,  whom  he  was  violently 
professing  to  worship.  But  the  insulted  women  con- 
tinued their  exercises  and  even  prolonged  them.  Upon 
moving  to  another  saloon  Shaw  followed  them,  and 
proceeded  again  with  his  violent  indecency.  In  the 
afternoon  he  followed  the  ladies,  and  at  every  saloon 
where  they  held  exercises,  excepting  two  where  the 
proprietors  refused  to  let  him  speak,  the  indecent  and 
disgraceful  actions  of  the  morning  were  continued,  but 
it  seemed  as  if  the  ladies  only  became  more  fervent 
under  such  brutal  treatment.  At  Mollenkopf’s  this 
man  repeated  his  ribald,  blasphemous,  brutal  harangue, 
while  citizens  stood  horrified  all  around  the  square, 
realizing  for  the  first  time  how  degrading,  how  injurious 
to  society,  and  how  dangerous  to  the  best  interests  of 


i84 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS, 


the  nation  must  be  a traffic,  which  had  to  resort  to  such 
unparalleled  brutality  in  a vain  endeavor  to  stop  a 
band  of  devout  and  earnest  women  from  praying  and 
singing.  Close  at  hand  and  supporting  Shaw,  were 
many  of  the  saloon-keepers,  and  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  crowd  was  a body  of  men  and  boys,  many  inflamed 
by  liquor,  cheering,  yelling  and  hallooing  when  some 
remark  unusually  brutal,  profane  or  outrageous,  fell 
from  the  lips  of  this  saloon  orator,  who  seemed  to  think 
he  was  doing  a noble  act,  in  bullying  and  abusing  pray- 
ing woman — the  teachers  of  his  children  in  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  the  mothers  of  their  companions.  At 
Peters  & Lauderbach’s  the  scenes  enacted- were  even 
mpre  disgraceful  than  before.  Not  only  did  Shaw 
repeat  his  harangue,  but,  as  a most  painful  variation,  a 
woman  appeared  with  two  children  and  some  beer, 
and  tauntingly  gave  it  to  the  children  to  drink  in  the 
presence  of  the  women  who  were  laboring  that  those 
children  might  be  preserved  from  the  terrible  effects 
of  the  liquor  traffic.  (The  husband  of  that  woman  and 
the  father  of  those  two  children  committed  suicide 
several  months  afterward  while  in  a fit  of  despondency 
caused  by  excessive  drinking.)  She  also  brought  beer 
and  gave  it  to  Shaw,  and  then  threw  the  dregs  over 
the  band  of  ladies  before  her.  The  saloon-keepers  and 
their  friends  dared  any  one  to  attempt  to  arrest  Shaw, 
and  the  mayor  of  the  town,  all  the  time  declaring  that 
these  violent  proceedings  must  be  stopped,  never  once 
realized  that  it  was  his  duty  to  order  Shaw  to  desist 
under  penalty  of  being  arrested  if  he  did  not.  Passing 
from  these  violent  and  disorderly  scenes  the  band  pro- 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS.  1 85 

ceeded  to  Thomas  Fuhrman’s,  where  they  had  always 
been  kindly  treated,  and,  as  usual,  he  admitted  them 
and  then  locked  the  door,  and,  as  one  of  the  ladies  re- 
ported, “ enabled  them  to  feel  that  they  were  once  more 
alone  with  their  God,  and  to  implore  Him  for  strength 
to  endure  the  terrible  ordeal  to  which  they  were  being 
subjected.”  Other  bands  had  been  visiting  other 
saloons,  and  when  they  met  at  the  church  there  was 
an  impressive  sight  not  soon  nor  easy  to  be  forgotten. 
Half  the  women  were  in  tears  at  the  brutal  treatment 
they  had  experienced,  but  a more  resolute  band  of 
heroines,  a body  of  women  more  resolved  to  hold 
together  and  continue  to  the  end,  it  is  safe  to  say  were 
never  before  assembled  in  Bucyrus.  One  could  reahze 
the  effect  of  persecution  on  the  martyrs  of  old,  and 
could  plainly  see  how,  as  well  as  understand  why,  the 
blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  church,  as  he 
looked  upon  and  studied  those  resolute  women  and 
heard  them  speak  ; yet  not  a word  of  anger,  not  an 
unkind,  not  an  unchristian  thought.  It  was  as  if  each 
now,  for  the  first  time,  realized  the  extent  of  the  de- 
pravity of  the  saloon  business,  and  was  more  than  ever 
convinced  that,  before  her  God,  it  was  her  duty  to 
labor  on  to  the  end. 

These  are  not  the  speculations  or  opinions  of  the 
writer,  but  the  actual  facts  openly  presented,  and 
affording  material  for  wonder  and  astonishment  as  well 
as  for  the  most  earnest  thought. 

In  the  evening  the  usual  immense  temperance  mass- 
meeting  was  held.  The  saloonists  also  held  a meeting 
for  consultation.  On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  three 


i86 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


large  bands  of  women  appeared  on  the  streets,  and 
during  their  exercises  the  disgraceful  scenes  of  the 
day  before  were  repeated.  At  noon  a warrant  was 
issued  for  Shaw’s  arrest,  and  instructions  were  given 
that  it  should  be  executed  in  case  he  did  not  behave 
himself.  Shaw,  upon  being  notified  that  the  mayor 
had  issued  the  warrant  with  these  instructions,  decided 
that  it  was  time  for  him  to  quit ; and  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  ladies  continued  their  exercises,  the  crowds 
who  witnessed  them  were  quiet  and  orderly.  In  the 
evening  the  town  council  held  a special  meeting,  and 
passed  a resolution  which  closed  as  follows : “ We  are 
impelled  to  instruct  our  executive  officer,  the  mayor, 
to  appoint  such  additional  police  force,  as,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  marshal,  may  be  necessary,  mildly  but 
persistently,  to  prevent  any  person  or  persons  being  for 
any  length  of  time  around,  about,  in,  or  in  front  of  any 
place  of  business  or  private  house,  within  the  limits  of 
the  incorporated  village  of  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  without  con- 
sent of  the  owner  or  occupant  of  the  same,  for  the 
purpose  of  singing,  praying,  or  making  speeches,  or  in 
any  way  annoying  the  prosecution  of  any  branch  of 
business,  or  disturbing  the  quiet  of  any  citizen,  or  im- 
peding or  interrupting  the  means  of  passage  upon  the 
sidewalks  or  streets.”  The  next  day  the  resolution 
and  a proclamation  by  the  mayor  to  the  same  effect 
was  published  and  circulated  throughout  the  town. 
The  women  appeared  on  the  streets  as  usual  and  issued 
the  following: 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


187 


WOMEN’S  PROCLAMATION. 

“Why  do  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine 
a vain  thine  ? The  kines  of  the  earth  set  themselves, 
and  the  rulers  take  counsel  together,  against  the  Lord, 
and  against  his  anointed,  saying,  Let  us  break  their 
bands  asunder,  and  cast  away  their  cords  from  us. 
He  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  shall  laugh ; the  Lord 
shall  have  them  in  derision.”  Psalms,  chap,  ii.,  v.  i 
to  4. 

“And  they  called  them,  and  commanded  them  not 
to  speak  at  all  nor  teach  in  the  name  of  Jesus.  But 
Peter  and  John  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Whether 
it  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God  to  hearken  unto  you 
more  than  unto  God,  judge  ye.”  Acts,  chap,  iv.,  v. 
18  and  19. 

“We  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men.”  Acts, 
chap.  V.,  v.  29. 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

“ In  the  Temperance  movement  we  have  under- 
taken, we  have  had  no  purpose  to  violate  the^laws  of 
the  State,  or  interfere  with  the  rights  of  any  citizen. 
We  have  malice  in  our  hearts  toward  none,  but  charity 
for  all.  We  believe  we  have  the  right  to  persuade 
men  from  strong  drink,  and  to  plead  with  the  liquor- 
seller  to  cease  from  his  traffic.  Believing,  too,  that 
God  has  called  us  to  the  high  duty  of  saving  our 
fellow-men,  we  will  not  cease  to  pray  and  labor  to  this 
end.  It  is  our  solemn  purpose,  with  love  in  our  hearts 
to  God  and  man,  to  go  right  forward  in  the  work  we 
have  undertaken,  and  if  the  hand  of  violence  be  laid 


i88 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


upon  US,  we  make  our  humble  and  confident  appeal  to 
the  God  whom  we  serve,  and  the  laws  of  the  State, 
whose  faithful  citizens  we  are. 

“ Executive  Committee. 

“ In  behalf  of  the  ladies  engaged  in  the  Temperance 
movement,  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  March  27th,  1874.” 

The  mayor,  at  first,  experienced  some  difficulty  in 
obtaining  men  to  serve  as  a special  police,  and  the 
ladies  were  pleased  to  learn  of  strong  remarks  made 
by  those,  who,  when  offered  the  position,  declined  to 
aid  the  mayor  in  his  dirty  work.  When  the  mayor 
announced  that  the  police  were  not  wanted  to  molest 
the  ladies  but  to  protect  them,  he  found  no  trouble  in 
securinof  men. 

Saturday,  March  28th,  the  women  were  out  in  full 
force,  and  also  on  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
of  the  next  week,  althous^h  at  times  the  weather  was 
very  cold  and  disagreeable,  the  authorities  making  no 
attempt  to  enforce  their  resolution.  Wednesday 
evening  a band  of  ladies  surprised  several  saloons, 
and  caused  no  little  consternation  by  walking  in  and 
holding  an  evening  service.  At  one  saloon  a number 
of  young  men  and  boys  were  found  drinking  and 
gambling.  Thursday,  April  2d,  the  ladies  were  en- 
couraged by  the  surrender  of  J.  R.  Miller.  In  the 
afternoon  he  hunsr  out  the  white  flam  and  the  ladies 
marched  up  in  full  force  and  held  a final  meeting  in 
front  of  his  establishment.  The  church  bells  were 
rung,  and  many  steam-whistles  united  to  create  a jolli- 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


189 


fication.  That  afternoon  they  were  treated  with  great 
discourtesy  at  the  saloon  of  Peters  & Lauderbach’s, 
one  of  the  proprietors  laying  his  hands  on  one  of  the 
ladies,  and,  in  the  admirably  chosen  words  of  the 
council  resolution,  “mildly  and  persistently”  trying  to 
make  her  leave. 

Monday,  April  6th,  was  election  day.  The  ladies 
remained  at  the  church  all  day  holding  a prayer-meet- 
ing, and  praying  most  earnestly  for  the  success  of  the 
temperance  ticket,  and  the  defeat  of  the  ticket  sup- 
ported by  the  saloon-keepers  and  their  friends. 

It  is  in  order  to  remark  here,  that  all  the  outrages 
hitherto  committed  by  the  saloonists  were  in  defiance 
of  the  authorities.  The  disgraceful  scenes  of  March 
25th  and  26th  were  permitted  by  the  mayor,  because 
he  supposed  he  was  powerless  to  stop  them.  But 
when  Shaw  was  defeated  at  the  Democratic  primaries 
for  the  nomination  of  Street  Commissioner,  because  he 
had  acted  in  such  an  outrageous  manner ; and  a strong 
citizens’  movement  had  been  organized,  and  a citizens’ 
ticket  nominated,  the  candidates  for  the  council  being 
men  who  would  close  the  saloons  under  the  law  com- 
monly called  the  “ McConnelsville  Ordinance”  (now 
repealed)  if  they  were  elected,  the  authorities  who 
were  seeking  a re-election  became  alarmed,  and  they 
would  permit  no  further  outrages  because  they  “feared 
the  people.”  The  election,  however,  resulted  in  the 
defeat  of  the  temperance  ticket,  and  the  mayor  and 
council,  having  been  re-elected,  had  nothing  to  fear, 
and  they  permitted  their  friends,  the  saloonists,  to 
conduct  themselves  as  they  pleased.  When  the  result 


1 90  CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 

of  the  election  was  known,  the  whole  of  the  north  end 
of  town,  where  most  of  the  saloons  are  situated,  be- 
came one  blaze  of  excitement,  and  a perfect  saturnalia 
of  drunkenness  appeared  to  prevail  until  midnight. 

Tuesday,  April  7th,  the  women  appeared  on  the 
streets,  and  commenced  their  exercises.  The  saloon- 
keepers had  hired  a travelling  brass  band  of  Hessians,' 
and  when  the  ladies  prayed,  the  band  struck  up,  but 
the  ladies  continued  their  devotions  until  the  melodi- 
ous Hessians  were  well-nigh  exhausted.  They  then 
followed  the  weakest  band  of  women  from  saloon  to 
saloon,  constantly  becoming  more  and  more  fagged 
out,  while  the  ladies  gained  more  arid  more  strength. 
At  Lindser’s,  some  miscreant  was  about  to  throw  a 
hatchet  at  the  ladies,  but  his  arm  was  caught  by  Mr. 
Lindser,  and  he  was  dragged  inside.  In  the  afternoon 
the  saloon-keepers  rigged  up  a platform  on  a wagon, 
hitched  four  horses  to  it,  and  having  put  the  Hessian 
band  and  representatives  from  all  the  saloons  (except 
Fuhrman’s  and  Steinberg’s)  upon  the  platform,  they 
drove  out  to  the  brewery,  and  were  treated  by  the 
proprietors  to  all  the  beer  they  could' drink.  In  about 
two  hours  they  appeared  on  the  square,  and  announced 
they  were  having  a jollification  over  their  victory  at 
the  election.  While  they  were  at  the  brewery,  the 
women  left  the  church  in  three  large  bands,  and  com- 
menced their  exercises.  A dense  crowd  gathered 
around  the  little  band  of  heroines  who  were  singing 
and  praying  in  front  of  Rettig’s.  On  the  doorstep  of 
this  saloon  was  a young  man,  his  face  flushed  with 
liquor,  the  slobber  oozing  from  his  mouth,  and  a bottle 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS.  I9I 

of  whiskey  in  his  hand,  from  which  he  occasionally 
took  a sup,  and  he  all  the  time  talking  blackguard 
slang  in  German,  which  the  ladies  could  not  under- 
stand, and  jabbering  in  broken  English,  to  the  astonish- 
ment and  disgust  of  over  five  hundred  people.  Seated 
on  the  steps,  in  a maudlin,  blear-eyed  condition  of 
drunkenness,  was  another  young  man,  and  every  few 
minutes  they  would  drink  from  the  bottle.  Here  was 
a young  man  who  stood  brandishing  a bottle  of  whis- 
key, blaspheming  and  drinking,  the  very  picture  of 
drunken  daring,  and  offering  stimulus  to  the  other 
young  man,  who  was  too  far  gone  to  stand  up,  and  not 
far  enough  to  keel  over  in  a drunken  stupor.  Near 
him  pure  and  earnest  women  knelt  and  prayed,  or 
gazed  in  horror  on  the  hitherto  unrevealed  depths  of 
depravity  yawning  before  them ; near  by  were  men 
talking  about  this  frenzied  brute  having  as  much  right 
to  curse,  blackguard,  and  drink  as  the  ladies  had  to 
cry  and  sing  and  pray ; while  on  the  outskirts  stood  a 
dense  crowd,  receiving  the  full  force  of  the  practical 
temperance  lecture  presented  to  them ; while  the 
young  man  stood  brandishing  his  bottle,  striking  the 
thick  end  violently  on  the  house,  blowing  a dog-whistle, 
blear-eyed,  besotted,  staggering  and  contending  for 
the  right  of  such  as  he  to  degrade  himself.  This 
young  man  followed  the  ladies  around  and  repeated 
his  disgraceful  actions  at  several  saloons.  When  the 
ladies  were  in  front  of  Mader’s,  the  wagon-load  of 
saloonists  appeared,  and  stopped  near  by;  the  Hessian 
band,  by  this  time  nearly  exhausted,  played  as  long  as 
they  could.  Then  Shaw,  who  was  on  the  wagon,  coni- 


192 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


menced  a loud  and  violent  harangue,  and  a disgrace- 
ful scene  of  confusion  ensued  that  should  be  seen  only 
to  be  realized.  A wao-ondoad  of  men  far  the  worse 

o 

off  for  liquor,  some  too  drunk  to  stand,  others  com- 
pelled to  hold  lest  they  should  fall,  helping  to  cause 
all  this  confusion,  because  a few  weak  women  dared 
publicly  to  pray  Heaven  that  the  evils  of  the  saloon- 
business  might  be  stopped.  Witnessing  these  dis- 
graceful scenes  at  a safe  distance,  stood  prominent 
citizens,  who,  by  their  votes  the  day  before,  had  helped 
create  this  infernal  spectacle,  and  who,  by  their  sullen 
silence,  approved  it — men,  any  one  of  whom  could, 
by  a word,  have  stopped  it,  and  who  let  it  continue. 
The  ladies  proceeded  to  Peters  & Lauderbach’s,  only 
to  experience  the  same  treatment,  and  in  addition, 
some  of  them  were  drenched  with  foul  water,  and  the 
disgraceful  scenes  were  continued  until  they  retired  to 
the  church,  having  finished  the  rounds  as  laid  out  by 
their  committee. 

Wednesday,  April  8th,  the  Pilgrims  appeared,  and 
so  did  the  Hessian  band,  but  the  latter  were  forbidden 
by  the  mayor  from  annoying  the  ladies,  and  the  day 
passed  quietly.  Every  saloon  was  visited,  and  the 
crowds  who  witnessed  the  exercises  kept  the  best  of 
order.  Thus  the  tardy  order  of  Wednesday  demon- 
strated who  was  responsible  for  the  disgraceful  dis- 
order of  Tuesday — not  the  women,  who  continued 
their  exercises  as  usual,  but  they  who  sought  to  inter- 
rupt them,  and  the  guardians  of  our  peace,  who  per- 
mitted peace  and  good  order  to  be  sacrificed  at  the 
expense  of  their  oaths  of  office  and  the  good  name  of 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


193 


the  town.  Thursday,  the  Hessian  band,  in  some  in- 
stances, was  inside  the  saloons  when  the  ladies  ap- 
proached, and  they  played  lustily  during  their  presence 
outside,  but  there  was  no  excitement,  no  crowd,  and 
no  event  of  special  note.  In  the  afternoon  the  ladies 
entered  the  store  of  George  Ritz,  who  endeavored 
violently  to  eject  them,  and  in  closing  the  door  he 
injured  one  of  them  so  that  she  could  not  move  her 
arm.  Several  days  afterwards  the  doctor  discovered 
that  her  shoulder-blade  had  been  broken.  She  was  a 
very  frail  young  lady,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the 
Baptist  minister,  Rev.  L.  G.  Leonard,  D.  D.,  and  the 
accident  was  very  much  regretted  by  Ritz, 

About  this  time  the  ladies  adopted  the  picket  sys- 
tem, which  consisted  in  two  or  more  ladies  remaining 
in  front  of  a saloon,  and  taking  the  names  of  all  who 
entered.  The  pickets  were  on  duty  two  hours  at  a 
time.  This  system  was  carried  on  for  several  days, 
during  which  time  the  bands  of  ladies  continued  to 
carry  on  the  work  with  more  or  less  activity.  At 
several  of  the  saloons  these  pickets  were  furnished 
with  chairs.  Some  of  the  ladies  on  picket  duty  were 
insulted  and  subjected  to  mean  remarks  made  to  them 
by  coarse  and  vulgar  men. 

When  the  Crusade  was  inaugurated  in  Bucyrus, 
petty  politicians  proclaimed  that  the  ladies  had  been 
sent  out  by  certain  men  in  order  to  create  an  excite- 
ment by  which  the  spring  elections  could  be  carried, 
and  they  sneeringly  declared  that  as  soon  as  the  elec- 
tion was  over  the  ladies  would  discontinue  their  work. 
But  when  the  women  continued  their  exercises  before 


13 


194 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


the  saloons  day  after  day,  the  saloon-keepers  became 
alarmed,  for  their  business  had  fallen  off  fully  one-half, 
and  they  demanded  of  the  authorities  that  the  Crusade 
should  be  stopped.  The  town  council  and  the  mayor, 
having  been  elected  by  the  saloon-keepers  and  their 
friends,  were  their  willing  tools,  and  on  April  1 7th,  an 
ordinance  was  passed  by  which  the  Crusade  could  be 
stopped.  This  ordinance  was  to  take  effect  May  2d. 
The  ladies  did  not  appear  disturbed  at  the  prospect 
before  them,  but  continued  their  work.  Union  meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  different  churches,  addresses 
being  delivered  by  prominent  workers  from  all  parts 
of  the  State.  Tuesday  evening,  April  28th,  the  Ladies’ 
Executive  Committee  met  the  town  council,  and  ex- 
plained to  the  members  of  that  body  that  while  they 
could  not  discontinue  their  street  exercises,  it  was 
from  no  want  of  respect  for  the  council,  who  repre- 
sented the  constituted  authority  of  the  town,  but 
because  they  considered  themselves  conscientiously 
bound  to  continue,  from  a sense  of  duty  to  a higher 
authority  than  the  town  council.  The  council, 
through  the  mayor,  gave  the  ladies  to  understand  that 
the  ordinance  would  be  enforced  and  they  would  be 
arrested.  One  of  the  members  of  the  council  read  to 
the  ladies  from  Romans,  13th  chapter,  verses  i and  2: 
“ Let  every  soul  be  subject  unto  the  higher  powers. 
For  there  is  no  power  but  of  God:  the  powers  that  be 
are  ordained  of  God.  Whosoever,  therefore,  resisteth 
the  power,  resisteth  the  ordinance  of  God:  and  they 
that  resist  shall  receive  to  themselves  damnation.” 
One  of  the  ladies  turned  immediately  to  the  second 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


195 


chapter  of  Romans,  and  read  the  third  verse : “And 
thinkest  thou  this,  O man,  that  judgest  them  which  do 
such  things,  and  doest  the  same,  that  thou  shalt  escape 
the  judgment  of  God?”  And  also  verse  21  : “Thou 
therefore  which  teachest  another,  teachest  not  thou  thy- 
self? Thou  that  preachest  a man  should  not  steal,  dost 
thou  steal?”  Meanwhile  the  Christian  women  were 
fervently  in  earnest,  relying  on  their  own  conscientious 
sense  of  their  duty  to  their  God,  while  the  council 
were  shamefully  determined  to  cast  their  whole  power 
in  favor  of  drunkenness,  crime,  systematic  violations 
of  law,  full  poor-houses,  crowded  jails,  and  overflowing 
penitentiaries,  and  to  crush  out  temperance,  virtue, 
happy  homes,  and  the  Christian  women  who  adorn 
them.  The  women  were  informed  by  the  Hon.  Judge 
Scott,  who  was  a member  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Ohio  for  fifteen  years,  that  the  ordinance  was  uncon- 
stitutional, and  they  were  advised  to  pay  no  attention 
to  it.  During  the  three  weeks  which  intervened  be- 
tween April  9th  and  May  2d,  the  ladies  were  permitted 
to  continue  their  exercises ; very  little  attention  was 
paid  to  them  by  the  proprietors  of  the  saloons,  and  but 
few  or  no  spectators  attended  them.  This  profound 
calm  continued  until  Friday  night.  May  ist,  and  the 
ordinance  was  to  take  effect  the  next  day. 

Saturday,  May  2d,  the  town  was  filled  with  an 
unusually  large  crowd ; the  ladies,  having  previously 
determined,  that,  as  they  seldom  appeared  on  the 
streets  Saturdays,  they  would  not  go  out  on  the  2d 
day  of  May.  Sunday  evening  an  unusually  large 
temperance  mass-meeting  was  held  at  the  Lutheran 


196 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


Church.  Monday  morning  die  weather  was  inclement 
and  very  damp,  and  the  ladies  did  not  appear.  In  the 
afternoon  four  bands,  of  about  twenty  each,  left  the 
M.  E.  Church  and  proceeded  to  the  saloons  of  Messrs. 
Ritz,  Mollenkopf,  Hesche,  and  the  Alcorn  House,  at 
the  western  side  of  the  public  square.  At  the  three 
latter  places  the  exercises  were  held,  and  no  attention 
was  paid  to  the  women.  At  Ritz’s  saloon  a large 
crowd  collected,  and  the  ladies  were  well-nigh  sur- 
rounded, but  there  was  no  special  force  or  disturbance 
used  by  the  extra  police,  who  were  active  in  keeping 
order,  in  requesting  the  women  to  move  on,  and  in 
taking  the  names  of  such  as  refused,  and  they  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  all  their  names.  The  appearance 
of  these  four  bands  on  the  square  at  the  same  time 
and  the  sound  of  their  voices  in  singing  was  unusually 
fine.  Passing  from  the  square  the  four  bands  pro- 
ceeded to  Fulton’s  drug  store,  to  Mader’s,  and  to 
Peters  & Lauderbach’s.  At  Fulton’s  the  clerk  came 
out  and  commenced  to  speak  roughly,  and  to  push  the 
women,  when  one  of  the  special  police  immediately 
caused  him  to  desist,  and  not  create  confusion.  Some 
earnest  urg-inof  and  rather  rough  handling  was  ex- 
perienced  from  some  of  the  other  specials,  but  nothing 
serious,  and  the  exercises  proceeded.  At  Peters  & 
Fauderbach’s  there  was  considerable  confusion  and 
some  roughness,  but  after  a short  time  the  ladies  held 
their  ground  and  the  exercises  proceeded.  At  this 
place,  while  one  of  the  ladies  was  kneeling  with  her 
companions,  one  of  the  specials,  three  several  times, 
lifted  her  up  and  carried  her  to  the  railroad  (several 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


197 


rods  from  her  companions) ; each  time  she  rebuked 
him  in  the  most  earnest  terms,  and  each  time  re- 
turned immediately  to  the  band.  Finally,  her  censures 
and  rebukes  were  so  earnest  that  the  fellow  got 
ashamed  of  himself,  and  retired  from  his  post,  vowing 
he  would  make  no  further  attempts  to  oppose  the 
ladies.  Thus  the  noble  women  went  on  with  their 
good  work,  and  in  the  evening  returned  to  the  church. 
It  was  a matter  of  general  surprise  that  no  arrests 
were  made,  but  it  finally  “leaked  out”  that  no  pro- 
vision had  been  made  by  the  council  for  trying  the 
ladies;  and  in  case  they  demanded  a trial  by  jury,  to 
which  they  would  be  entitled,  the  authorities  would  be 
powerless,  for  no  provision  had  been  made  for  form- 
ing a jury.  The  mayor,  therefore,  instructed  the 
special  police,  to  keep  the  women  “moving”  but  make 
no  arrests. 

The  next  morning,  Tuesday,  May  5th,  commonly 
called  “ Black  Tuesday,”  by  the  Crusaders  of  Bucyrus, 
the  pilgrims  appeared.  A band  of  them  approached 
Ritz’s  saloon.  Immediately  a scene  took  place  that  no 
power  or  words  can  adequately  describe.  A swarm 
of  specials  almost  instantly  appeared,  and  when  the 
noble  women  prepared  to  stop,  they  were  seized,  and 
pushed,  and  pulled,  and  hustled,  and  driven,  and 
dragged  in  a most  outrageous  and  brutal  manner,  until 
they  were  finally  gotten  to  the  pavement  in  front  of 
Morgan’s  barber-shop.  Here  they  stood  bravely  at 
bay,  and  told  the  specials  that  if  they  intended  making 
any  arrests  they  would  offer  no  resistance,  but  they,  the 
specials,  had  no  right  to  interfere  with  them  or  touch 


198 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


them  in  any  other  manner — that  Morgan  had  not  or- 
dered them  away,  and  they  had  a right  to  remain.  The 
unfortunate  specials,  each  one,  with  a few  exceptions, 
armed  with  a regular  hickory  bludgeon — a sign  far 
more  of  his  cowardice  than  of  his  authority — realized 
their  want  of  power,  and  the  brave  ladies  proceeded 
with  their  exercises.  These  being  concluded,  they 
passed  on  to  the  adjacent  saloon  of  Mollenkopf’s. 
Here  the  same  scenes  of  outrageous  violence  were  re- 
enacted with  increased  brutality:  the  women  were 
pushed,  and  pulled,  and  hustled,  and  dragged,  and  sav- 
agely assaulted,  and  openly  abused,  with  vituperations 
and  oaths  by  wretches  who  were  not  worthy  to  dust 
the  shoes  of  these  women.  They  experienced,  liter- 
ally, every  indignity  but  a square  blow.  Such  cow- 
ardly blows  as  could  be  secretly  given,  seizures  and 
violent  pushes,  amounting  in  effect  to  blows,  were 
given -continually,  but  the  brave  band  held  its  ground, 
by  retiring  from  the  pavement  to  the  curb  in  front,  and 
then  stood  at  bay  and  defied  the  cowards,  who,  if  they 
had  any  manhood  whatever,  would  have  suffered  them- 
selves blows  and  kicks  without  number  rather  than  thus 
to  have  outraged  their  manhood  by  such  treatment  of 
women.  One  miserable  wretch,  who  has  not  done  an 
honest  day’s  work  for  years,  approached  two  ladies, 
and  standing  opposite  to  them,  after  they  had  brought 
the  specials  to  bay,  and  defied  them,  cursed  and  blas- 
phemed in  vindication  of  his  manhood,  and  said  to 
them;  “You  are  a d — d pretty  set  of  Christians,  you 
are  ! you’re  a d — d set  of  hypocrites  ; that  is  what  you 
are!”  Such  detestable  conduct  from  a miserable  cow- 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


199 


ard,  sworn  to  preserve  order,  was  exceedingly  abom- 
inable. 

While  these  scenes  were  being  enacted,  another 
band  of  ladies  was  being  treated  in  the  same  outrage- 
ous manner  in  front  of  Donnenwrith’s  saloon.  Citizens 
who  expostulated  with  the  ruffians  were  seized  and 
hurried  from  the  crowd.  A stranger  by  the  name  of 
Furguson,  a gentleman  from  Delaware,  Ohio,  who 
committed  the  heinous  enormity  of  saving  a lady  from 
falling  down  a cellar,  into  which  she  was  being  pushed 
by  one  of  the  mayor’s  pets,  was  taken  before  that  illus- 
trious mamstrate  and  fined  five  dollars.  Another  brave 

o 

policeman  captured  a youth  of  sixteen,  and  the  only 
reason  was,  the  bully  wished  to  arrest  some  one,  and 
young  Howenstein  was  delicate,  quiet,  and  easy  to 
take.  Still  another  arrest  was  made  by  a special,  and 
when  he  appeared  with  his  prisoner  before  the  mayor, 
the  only  charge  he  brought  against  his  man  was,  “that 
it  was  Bill  Trimble,  who  was  a good  temperance  man.” 
A young  man  was  struck  down  with  a billy,  and  the 
blows  six  times  repeated  on  the  nape  of  the  neck,  as 
each  time  he  attempted  to  rise.  This  act  was  wanton, 
without  any  provocation  whatever.'  During  that  morn- 
ing, at  every  saloon  they  visited,  these  atrocious  out- 
rages were  perpetrated  by  this  band  of  ruffians,  acting 
as  a special  police,  who  were,  with  a few  exceptions, 
the  “scum”  and  the  “off-scouring”  of  the  community. 
Women  were  thrown  down,  were  dragged  and  wrenched 
by  brute  force  from  posts  and  rails  to  which  they  clung; 
were  seized  by  ruffians  who  were  intoxicated,  and  car- 
ried several  rods  from  their  companions.  The  police 


200 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


would  join  hands,  and  the  brutal  crowd  behind  them 
would  push,  and  the  power  exerted  by  this  solid  force 
of  men  was  sufficient  to  fairly  sweep  everything  before 
them,  and  they  thus  succeeded  in  making  the  women 
“move  on.”  All  the  time  these  helpless  ladies  were 
demanding  to  be  arrested  if  they  had  done  wrong,  but 
protesting  against  such  violent  treatment,  but  of  no 
avail:  at  every  saloon  the  same  odious  acts  and  detest- 
able proceedings  were  enacted,  until  the  whole  town 
trembled  on  the  verge  of  a bloody  riot.  A more 
atrocious,  abominable,  iniquitous  series  of  outrages 
were  never  offered  to  ladies ; and  these  the  wives, 
daughters,  and  mothers  of  the  best  men  of  the  com- 
munity! suffering  such  infamous  treatment  because 
they  dared  to  publicly  sing  and  pray  against  the  evils 
of  the  liquor  traffic. 

At  noon,  citizens  appeared  before  S.  S.  Caldwell, 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  entered  complaints  against 
several  of  the  specials,  and  warrants  were  issued  for 
their  arrest,  on  charges  of  assault  and  battery.  In  the 
afternoon  a test  trial  was  held  before  the  same  officer, 
and  one  of  the  specials  was  bound  over  to  appear  be- 
fore the  grand  jury.  The  editor  of  the  Joiirncd 
earnestly  and  indignantly  remonstrated  with  the  mayor, 
against  the  acts  committed  by  his  specials,  and  finally 
obtained  from  that  officer  the  following  declaration, 
which  he  immediately  printed  and  circulated : “ IMy  in- 
structions to  the  special  police  are,  to  use  no  violence 
either  to  the  women,  or  to  the  men ; and,  if  any  such 
violence  has  been  used,  I shall  instruct  the  police  im- 
mediately to  desist  from  it.”  In  consequence  of  these 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


201 


instructions  and  the  effect  produced  by  the  arrest  of 
several  specials,  the  ardor  of  the  willing  police  was 
cooled,  and  the  afternoon  passed  without  any  further 
disturbance,  except  in  front  of  Shaw’s.  This  man, 
who  is  a sensible,  orderly  citizen,  when  sober,  was  in- 
flamed with  liquor;  he  had  just  opened  a new  saloon, 
and  was  most  indecent  in  his  treatment  of  the  ladies. 
He  told  them  in  plain  terms,  in  a violent  harangue, 
that  they  were  no  better  that  the  vilest  women  of  the 
street,  whereupon,  Mr.  Furney,  a livery-stable-keeper, 
of  Mansfield,  who  had  a wife  and  daughter  among  the 
Crusaders  of  that  place,  caused  him  immediately  to 
“take  it  back,”  which  Shaw  did.  Excepting  this  in- 
decent insult,  the  afternoon  passed  without  any  serious 
disturbance. 

Wednesday,  May  6th,  large  crowds  followed  the 
women,  but  the  best  of  order  prevailed,  and  they  were 
permitted  to  continue  their  exercises  free  from  insult 
or  injury,  save  at  the  saloon  of  Peters  & Lauderbach. 
The  wives  of  these  men  had  prepared  for  the  ladies, 
and  in  some  cases  literally  drenched  them  with  water. 
Some  of  the  citizens,  indignant  at  such  treatment, 
could  hardly  be  restrained  from  sacking  the  house ; 
but  prominent  men  interfered,  better  counsels  pre- 
vailed, and  the  excitement  subsided.  Thursday,  Van 
Amburgh’s  show  exhibited  in  Bucyrus,  and  the  ladies 
did  not  appear  on  the  streets.  In  the  evening  the 
council  passed  two  ordinances  to  amend  and  correct 
the  deficiencies  of  the  former  ordinance,  which  two 
were  to  take  effect  on  the  i8th  day  of  May,  and  until 
that  day  the  ladies  continued  their  work,  no  further 


202 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


obstacles  being  placed  in  their  way  by  the  authorities. 
The  women  desired  to  test  the  ordinance  by  a trial, 
and  having  retained  Judge  Scott  to  defend  them,  they 
discontinued  their  work  in  front  of  the  saloons  for  a 
few  days,  because  the  judge  could  not  devote  his  time 
to  their  case  until  court,  which  was  then  in  session, 
adjourned.  During  the  next  ten  days  they  held  re- 
ligious exercises  in  front  of  business  establishments,  in 
different  quarters  of  the  town,  permission  having  been 
obtained  of  the  owners.  The  ladies  presented  a ver)^ 
fine  Bible  to  Mr.  Harvey  E.  Morgan,  a colored  barber, 
for  kindly  permitting  them  to  remain  in  front  of  his 
shop,  and  continue  their  exercises  on  Tuesday,  hlay 
5th,  after  they  had  been  swept  from  the  pavement  in 
front  of  Ritz’s,  by  the  overpowering  force  of  the 
brutal  police.  Having  granted  them  permission  to 
hold  a prayer-meeting  on  his  pavement,  he  was  seri- 
ously injured  in  his  business  by  twenty-five  of  his 
customers  removinof  their  shavinor-muors  from  his 
shop. 

The  street  work  was  all  but  discontinued,  and  many 
of  the  ladies  had  virtually  abandoned  the  work  as 
hopeless ; but  they  desired  to  place  the  responsibility 
where  it  belonged — with  the  town  council ; and  on 
Monday,  June  ist,  they  renewed  their  exercises  in 
front  of  the  saloons,  having,  since  May  i8th,  held  ex- 
ercises at  the  most  public  places  of  the  town,  and  all 
around  the  saloons,  without  creating  any  disturbance 
whatever,  and,  therefore,  demonstrated  that  street 
praying  and  singing,  in  and  of  itself,  did  not  cause  any 
disturbance.  In  the  evening  they  visited  Lindser’s, 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS, 


203 


who  was  evidently  completely  taken  by  surprise,  and 
exclaimed,  somewhat  roughly,  in  effect,  if  not  in  words, 
“ See  here  ! Get  out  of  this  ! I thought  this  thing  was 
played  out.  I won’t  have  you  here.”  The  ladies 
moved  to  the  edge  of  the  sidewalk,  and  finished  their 
exercises,  and  proceeded  to  Jahn’s,  Rettig’s,  and  then 
to  Shaw’s,  who  commenced  with  his  usual  ruffian  in- 
decency, and  a large  and  disorderly  crowd  commenced 
to  assemble.  A scene  of  intense  excitement  and 
confusion  immediately  took  place.  The  ladies  were 
violently  interrupted.  The  indecent  crowd,  whose 
faces  had  become  familiar  to  them,  began  to  jostle  and 
jam  and  swear  and  riot  in  the  old  style.  Shaw  or- 
dered the  ladies  away,  and,  as  they  did  not  go,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  take  their  names.  The  ladies  continued 
their  exercises,  subject  to  these  interruptions,  and 
retired  to  the  church. 

Shaw  complained  to  the  mayor,  and  the  following 
indictment  was  preferred  against  Mrs.  Trimble,  one 
of  the  ladies : 

AFFIDAVIT. 

The  State  of  Ohio,  Crawford  County,  rj.  ] 
Incorporated  Village  of  Bucyrus.  j 

Before  me,  James  M.  Van  Voorhis,  Mayor  of  said  incorporated 
village  of  Bucyrus  aforesaid,  personally  appeared  William  R.  Shaw, 
who  being  duly  sworn,  according  to  law,  deposeth  and  says,  that 
on  the  first  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-four,  at  and  within  the  incorporated 
village  of  Bucyrus,  aforesaid,  one  Kate  Trimble,  then  and  there 
being,  upon  one  of  the  streets  of  said  incorporated  village,  did  then 
and  there,  unlawfully  and  wilfully  disturb  the  peace  and  quiet  of 
said  village,  and  the  citizens  thereof,  by  then  and  there  unlawfully 


204 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


and  wilfully  hallooing,  vociferating  and  singing  upon  the  said  street 
of  said  village,  in  violation  of  section  three  of  an  ordinance  of  said 
incorporated  village,  entitled  : an  ordinance  to  preserve  good  order 
within  the  limits  of  Bucyrus,  and  prevent  annoyance  to  business, 
disorderly  conduct,  noise  and  disturbance  within  said  village, 
passed  April  17th,  1874. 

W.  R.  SHAW. 

Sworn  to  before  me,  and  subscribed  in  my  presence  by  William 
R.  Shaw,  this  ist  day  of  June,  1874. 

J.  M.  VAN  VOORHIS.  [Seal.] 

Mrs.  Trimble  appeared  before  the  mayor,  and  by 
her  counsel  demanded  a trial  by  jury.  The  case  was 
adjourned  until  Wednesday  afternoon,  in  order  that 
the  necessary  arrangements  might  be  made,  and  then 
readjourned  until  Thursday  morning.  The  mayor, 
after  considerable  hesitation  and  parleying,  consented 
to  hold  the  trial  in  the  court-room,  in  order  that  all 
who  desired  might  attend.  Thursday  morning  the 
jury  was  formed,  and  the  trial  began.  It  extended 
through  three  days,  and  was  a perfect  farce,  committed 
in  the  name  of  justice.  Throughout  the  trial  the  cor- 
rupt mayor,  by  his  partial  decisions  and  the  most 
unjust  rulings,  aided  his  friends,  the  saloon-keepers, 
to  the  full  extent  of  his  power.  The  jury  was  packed, 
and  everything  else  had  been  arranged  for  the  convic- 
tion of  Mrs.  Trimble.  Friday  afternoon  Judge  Scott 
delivered  a very  long  and  able  speech  in  behalf  of  the 
ladies.  Saturday  afternoon  the  jury  rendered  a ver-. 
diet  of  guilty,  and  Mrs.  Trimble  was  fined  $15  and 
costs,  amounting  to  ^100  more ; (this  was  paid  by  the 
Men’s  League.) 


CRUSADE  AT  BUCYRUS. 


205 


The  counsel  for  the  ladies  filed  a bill  of  exceptions 
to  several  of  the  rulings  of  the  mayor,  and  upon  being 
carried  to  the  Supreme  Court,  the  decisions  were 
reversed,  and  a new  trial  granted.  Owing  to  the 
crowded  condition  of  the  docket  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Ohio,  this  case  was  not  reached  until  several  months 
afterwards,  and  a new  trial  was  not  pressed,  but  the 
case  was  dropped.  After  the  verdict  was  rendered, 
Mrs.  Trimble  refused  to  pay  the  fine,  and  refused  to 
take  security,  which  was  offered  by  several,  preferring 
to  go  to  jail.  She  was  advised  to  do  this  by  a number 
of  the  ladies,  but  their  counsel  protested  against  such 
a course,  and  the  security  was  accepted  by  her,  and 
she  was  discharo-ed.  A number  of  the  ladies  were  in 

o 

favor  of  continuing  the  work,  and  suffering  the  penalty, 
but  they  were  advised  by  prominent  temperance  men 
that  it  would  be  useless,  and  the  street  work  was  dis- 
continued. The  ladies  still  continue  their  union  tem- 
perance prayer-meetings,  and  are  waiting  and  praying 
for  the  time  when  every  knee  shall  bow  to,  and  every 
tongue  proclaim  the  glory  of  their  great  Leader — 
Emanuel. 

Although  but  three  years  have  passed  since  the 
ladies  of  Bucyrus  were  so  shamefully  treated  for  pray- 
ing that  the  saloons  might  be  closed,  three  of  those 
saloon-keepers  have  passed  to  another  world.  One 
died  from  old  age  ; another  was  thrown  from  his  wagon 
and  sustained  injuries  which  caused  his  death  a few 
days  afterwards ; the  third,  while  under  the  influence 
of  liquor,  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself 
through  the  brain  and  heart.  Shaw,  who  abused  the 


206 


CRUSADE  AT 'ELYRIA. 


ladies  so  terribly,  signed  the  pledge  during  the  Murphy 
movement,  and  has  since  that  time  been  a new 
man. 

Our  ladies  have  discontinued  their  “ street”  work, 
but  their  prayers  have  never  ceased  to  ascend  to  the 
God  who  preserved  his  chosen  people  for  forty  years 
in  the  wilderness,  until  he  finally  permitted  them  to 
enter  the  land  of  promise.  The  liquor-dealers  are 
more  powerful,  more  corrupt,  and  more  defiant  than 
ever  before;  but  the  “soul”  of  the  Crusade  is  “march- 
ing on,”  and  it  will  continue  to  march  on,  until  every 
saloon  and  brewery  and  distillery  in  the  nation  has 
been  closed,  and  America  is  free  from  the  terrible 
curse  of  intoxicating  liquors.” 

In  connection  with  the  disgraceful  scenes  which  the 
impartial  historian  has  been  forced  to  record  in  the 
history  of  the  work  at  Bucyrus,  I desire  to  call  attention 
to  the  subject  of  European  emigration  and  the  liquor 
traffic,  discussed  in  another  chapter. 

The  liquor  traffic  is  mainly  in  the  hands  of  a de- 
graded criminal  class  of  foreigners — a class  who, 
although  clothed  with  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
citizenship,  are  enemies,  open  and  defiant,  to  American 
institutions  and  usagfes,  and  noted  for  lawlessness.  As 
a class,  they  are  criminals  and  criminal-makers. 

ELYRIA,  OHIO. 

The  following  facts  were  furnished  by  the  Society, 
through  Mrs.  S.  C.  Ely  : 

The  great  temperance  wave  that  swept  over  Ohio 
reached  Elyria,  on  the  evening  of  March  5th,  1874. 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


207 


An  enthusiastic  mass-meeting  was  held,  and  an  ap- 
pointment for  a meeting  of  the  women  of  the  place 
was  made  for  the  next  morning  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  large  edifice  was  well  filled,  and  an 
attentive  audience  was  addressed  by  a lady  from 
Cleveland,  and  other  speakers. 

The  women  of  our  staid  little  town  were  moved  as 
never  before.  They  had  hitherto  obeyed  most  faith- 
fully the  apostolic  injunction  to  “ keep  silence  in  the 
churches;”  but  the  flood-gates  Avere  about  to  give 
way.  Lips  were  unsealed  on  that  occasion ; voices 
were  consecrated  to  the  cause  of  truth  that  still  rine 
out  in  its  defence  with  no  uncertain  sound. 

Among  those  present  were  many  who  had  borne 
the  heavy  yoke  imposed  by  intemperance,  and  touch- 
ing were  their  appeals  for  help  against  their  mighty 
foe. 

All  the  strong  woman-heart  responded  in  the  solemn 
affirmative  to  the  question,  “ Shall  we  organize  a 
Woman’s  Temperance  League  in  Elyria?”  To  many 
the  answer  contained  the  martyr’s  heroic  decision,  so 
repugnant  seemed  the  warfare  ; but  the  unwillingness 
to  meet  the  solemn  duty  of  the  hour  was  still  more 
awful. 

An  organization  was  effected,  and  seventy-  names 
secured.  Encouraged  by  able  and  devoted  Christian 
pastors,  the  movement  was  baptized  in  prayer,  and 
has  ever  since  held  on  by  the  same  strong  arm  for 
its  support. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Crusade  there  were  sixteen 
saloons,  one  brewery,  and  four  drug  stores  where 


2o8 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


liquor  could  be  purchased,  in  Elyria.  The  first  visit 
was  made  to  the  druggists,  and  after  a few  days  the 
names  of  the  four  were  enrolled  on  a stringent  drug- 
gists’  temperance  pledge. 

On  March  9th  the  first  saloon  was  visited.  A pro- 
cession, consisting  of  seventy-five  ladies,  passed  slowly 
along  our  principal  streets,  two  by  two,  producing  a 
solemn  spectacle,  watched  by  many  with  uncovered 
heads  and  tearful  eyes.  It  was  decided  to  visit  first  the 
largest  and  strongest  fortress  of  the  enemy,  and  as  the 
long  company  filed  into  the  bar-room  the  interest  be- 
came intense.  All  was  quiet  at  our  approach,  and  even 
solemnly  did  the  landlord  and  his  wife  receive  us. 
After  permission  to  hold  religious  services,  which  was 
always  gained  before  proceeding  in  our  exercises,  ‘the 
whole  band  broke  forth  into  the  hymn,  “Nearer,  my 
God,  to  Thee.” 

The  contrasting  scenes  served  to  give  a fresh  mean- 
ing to  the  words,  throwing  them  into  bold  relief,  and 
thus  aptly  expressing  the  old  conflict  between  good 
and  evil.  Prayers,  earnest  and  full  of  inspiration,  fol- 
lowed; and  argument  and  entreaty  were  used.  Then 
began  the  pleas  so  constantly  put  forward  afterwards: 
debt,  the  necessity  of  continuance  in  tlie  business  for 
the  support  of  the  family,  overtures  to  sell  out  at  fab- 
ulous prices — till  it  began  to  seem  that  the  Crusade 
might  be  turned  into  a vast  relief  agency  for  the  bene- 
fit of  bankrupt  saloonists. 

That  March  afternoon  witnessed  the  same  long  file 
wending  its  way  down  the  principal  street,  filling  an- 
other saloon  with  sacred  influences,  and  raising  the  look 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA, 


209 


of  wonder  and  awe  in  faces  unused  to  praise.  At  last 
the  bolted  doors  of  two  saloons  in  close  proximity  de- 
manded the  necessity  for  services  upon  the  steps.  A 
crowd  gathered  eagerly  around  the  band,  hymns  were 
sung,  and  in  that  bleak  March  air,  prayers  went  up  for 
the  inmates  of  those  saloons.  Pledges  were  after- 
wards circulated  among  the  crowd,  and  many  names 
secured.  Earnest  appeals  were  made  to  all,  and  a 
solemn  influence  was  felt,  as  if  Heaven  were  very  near. 
One  more  saloon  visited,  and  the  first  day  of  the  Cru- 
sade was  over. 

The  opposing  forces  were  now  fairly  met,  and  their 
strength  vaguely  measured. 

From  this  time  on,  for  six  weeks,  two  daily  prayer- 
meetings  were  held,  from  which  committees  went  forth 
to  plead,  with  prayer,  song,  and  argument,  with  the 
men  who  dealt  out  these  destructive  drinks. 

Evening  visitations  were  often  conducted.  Quietly 
but  suddenly  a band  of  women  would  stand  in  the 
midst  of  drunken  revelry;  the  coarse,  brutal  jeer 
only  stimulated  the  women  to  greater  effort,  and  made 
them  feel  the  full  force  of  the  giant  evil  they  were  com- 
bating; and  deeper  grew  the  power  and  solemnity  of 
their  appeal  to  God,  that  He  would  exorcise  this  fearful 
demon,  and  restore  order  and  beauty  to  His  creation. 

Many  touching  remarks  were  made  among  the  by- 
standers at  the  saloons.  Said  one  man:  “Men  have 
worked  forty  years  to  accomplish  what  women,  aided 
by  the  Spirit  of  God,  have  done  in  one  month,”  An- 
other: “Oh!  that  they  had  begun  this  movement  ten 
years  ago — before  I was  bankrupt  in  body  and  soul.” 

14 


210 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


And  often  from  fevered  lips  a murmured  “God  bless 
you!”  gave  a fresh  impulse  to  effort. 

After  three  weeks  of  constant  labor,  the  first  sur- 
render was  effected.  Solemnly  was  the  name  written 
to  the  dealers’  pledge,  followed  by  prayers  within  and 
ringing  of  bells  without,  while  “Praise  God  from  whom 
all  blessings  flow,”  broke  forth  spontaneously  as  the 
beer  was  poured  into  the  gutter.  Another  dealer,  at 
the  same  time,  signed  the  pledge  for  three  months,  but 
soon  after  sent  word  he  would  sign  it  for  life.  The 
full  force  of  the  Crusade,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
ladies,  met  him  and  received  his  final  pledge.  In  the 
general  enthusiasm,  amid  a great  throng,  the  barrels 
were  rolled  into  the  gutter,  while  “Glory,  Hallelujah!” 
filled 'the  air.  Following  this,  an  aged  lady,  whose  life 
has  been  an  intellectual,  and  a spiritual  benediction  to 
this  people  from  their  earliest  days,  offered  prayer. 

Being  small  of  stature,  a pulpit  was  quickly  impro- 
vised from  a beer  barrel,  and  never  did  priestly  altar 
serve  a grander  purpose.  Her  spiritual  face  and  form 
lifted  above  the  crowd,  with  outstretched  arms,  as  if 
accepting  the  opportunity  as  the  crowning  gift  of  a 
long  and  useful  life,  she  gave  utterance  to  one  of 
those  inspired  petitions  that  have  their  birth  in  a mo- 
ment of  spiritual  exaltation.  The  troubled  sea  before 
her  seemed  to  feel  a divine  influence,  and  to  hear  the 
voice  saying:  “Peace!  be  still!” 

Yet  other  victories  were  gained,  until  eight  saloons 
had  closed  their  doors. 

In  the  meantime,  no  stone  was  left  unturned  in  the 
great  struggle.  Campaigns,  flank  movements,  military 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


2 I I 


stratagems  and  surprises,  worthy  of  the  brain  of  a Von 
Moltke,  were  planned  and  executed.  The  Catholic 
priest  and  the  two  German  pastors  were  visited  and 
appealed  to  for  their  influence  in  their  different 
churches.  They  were  all  interested  in  the  success 
of  the  cause,  but  were  not  quite  sure  of  the  means 
used,  nor  of  the  propriety  of  removing  a temptation, 
which,  in  the  mind  of  one  of  them,  had  a divine  origin. 

German  citizens  were  visited,  and  a commingling  of 
nationalities  took  place  never  before  known,  and 
though  much  antagonism  was  created,  each  learned 
to  view  the  situation  from  the  other’s  standpoint  more 
clearly  than  ever  before,  and  to  make  allowance  for 
difference  of  opinion. 

To  the  question  of  an  intelligent  German  saloonist, 
“ Why  should  the  women  of  America  feel  more  on  this 
subject  than  the  women  of  Germany  ? ” the  answer 
was  made,  “ In  your  country  men  and  women  alike  are 
under  one  central  power — one  emperor  controls  you 
both.  Here  jyou  are  all  emperors,  while  part  in 
this  great  government  is  simple  obedience.  Now  there 
is  one  right  we  women  be  allowed,  and  that  is,  to 
see  to  it  as  far  as  we  can,  that  you  carry  a clear  brain 
and  a true  heart  along  with  this  power.” 

The  McConnelsville  ordinance  prohibiting  the  sale 
of  ale,  beer  and  wine  by  the  glass,  was  passed  March 
28th,  creating  much  irritation,  for  though  not  directly 
the  work  of  the  Crusade,  it  was  charged  to  it,  and  the 
saloonists  intrenched  themselves  behind  what  lesfal 
rights  they  had  left,  more  strongly  than  ever,  and  for  a 
time,  visiting  saloons  seemed  powerless  for  good. 


212 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


At  this  period  our  membership  amounted  to  209 ; 
1 14  calls  had  been  made,  and  519  signatures  to  the 
pledge  had  been  secured. 

April  29th  marks  a golden  day  in  our  calendar,  for 
that  evening.  Temperance  Hall,  an  old  saloon  which 
had  been  fitted  up  attractively  with  pictures,  papers, 
magazines  and  a musical  instrument,  was  dedicated 
as  a home  for  those  we  had  rescued,  and  a rallying 
point  for  ourselves,  the  crystallization  of  our  work. 
Here,  for  two  months,  a meeting  for  prayer  and  busi- 
ness was  held  every  afternoon,  and  from  them,  bands 
were  sent  forth  to  visit.  A committee  for  each  week 
provided  for  the  evening’s  entertainment  of  music, 
readings,  etc.,  and  during  the  summer  the  hall  was 
liberally  patronized.  A prayer-meeting  was  also  sus- 
tained here  during  the  entire  year  on  Saturday  eve. 
Saloon  hours  were  observed,  and  many  a young  man 
was  brought  under  religious  influences,  and  signed  the 
pledge  and  dates  the  new  life  from  those  days. 

The  McConnelsville  ordinance  being  manifestly  dis- 
regarded and  disorder  prevailing,  these  earnest  workers 
felt  they  could  not  give  up  the  ground  they  had  so 
courageously  fought  for,  and  began  the  arduous  and 
unpleasant  duties  of  “picketing.”  This  proving  very 
exasperating  to  many  in  our  community,  all  objection- 
able features  were  removed,  and  a “visitation”  was 
substituted  by  which  bands  would  ask  admittance  to 
the  saloons,  and,  if  allowed,  would  remain  many  hours 
in  conversation  with  the  saloonist  and  his  friends, 
urging  the  great  duty  of  the  hour.  Many  times,  it  is 
true,  he  would  retaliate,  and  ladies  found  themselves 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA, 


213 


prisoners,  but  always  employed  the  time  to  the  best 
advantage.  Persecution  also  showed  itself  at  Tem- 
perance Hall ; stones  were  thrown  into  the  room 
through  the  windows,  and  angry  crowds  collected  at 
the  doors. 

On  June  2d,  the  Lorain  County  Temperance  Society 
was  organized  at  a lively  meeting  held  in  Elyria  of 
representatives  of  nearly  all  the  towns  in  the  county, 
and  continues  a vigorous  organization.  Reports 
showed  that  twenty-one  out  of  the  thirty-nine  saloons 
in  the  county  had  been  closed.  At  this  time  a county 
visitation  was  provided  for,  Elyria  being  assigned  six 
towns  to  visit  before  the  Aua-ust  election  for  the  new 

o 

State  constitution,  with  a license  clause  to  be  added 
or  rejected.  Thirty  meetings  were  held  in  the  different 
towns  and  school  districts,  addressed  mostly  by  women, 
though  often  carrying  ballast  in  the  form  of  minister 
or  lawyer,  (more  often  one  wdio  combined  all  the  pro- 
fessions,) to  satisfy  the  shrewd  farmers,  incredulous  of 
the  mental  capacity  of  women  to  expound  the  weightier 
points  of  the  law. 

Visitation  from  house  to  house  was  kept  up  for 
many  weeks  previous  to  the  election,  and  in  the  house 
and  by  the  wayside,  much  temperance  seed  was  sown. 
The  result,  so  well  known,  strengthened  the  hearts  of 
the  laborers. 

The  Elyria  RepiLblican,  one  of  the  best  weekly 
papers  in  northern  Ohio,  and  a sterling  advocate  for 
the  temperance  cause,  was  started  in  October,  1874, 
and  grew  out  of  the  Woman’s  Crusade.  The  order 
from  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  prohibiting 


214 


CRUSADE  AT  ELYRIA. 


their  employes  entering  a saloon,  was  the  result  of  the 
temperance  agitation  of  northern  Ohio. 

During  the  ensuing  winter  of  1874-75,  the  spirit 
of  work  being  upon  us,  but  laws  unobserved,  and 
public  sentiment  unfavorable  to  direct  temperance 
effort,  a Relief  Committee  for  the  poor  of  our  place 
was  added  to  our  League.  The  town  Avas  districted 
and  thoroughly  visited.  The  sum  of  ^358.11  was 
raised,  besides  numerous  articles  of  comfort  contrib- 
uted and  distributed  among  our  poor,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  ^63.47  sent  to  the  relief  of  Kansas  sufferers. 

A larue  and  commodious  room  was  secured  in 

o 

place  of  the  old  one,  and  occupied  April  ist,  1875, 
and  Temperance  Hall  still  continues  to  be  an  impor- 
tant institution  in  our  midst.  A Tuesday  afternoon 
prayer  and  business  meeting  is  always  held  there,  and 
so  much  of  importance  requires  attention  on  these 
occasions,  that  three  hours  are  often  spent  by  the 
faithful  ones,  who  never  fail  to  attend. 

The  Temperance  Lyceum,  composed  of  sixty-seven 
young  people,  often  attracting  many  more  to  their 
lively  debates  and  entertainments,  on  Tuesday  evening 
of  each  week,  is  the  most  hopeful  feature  of  the  win- 
ter of  1875—76.  A jail  visitation  has  also  been  added 
to  our  work  during  the  past  Avinter,  from  AATich  re- 
ports have  been  of  deep  interest. 

And  noAv,  as  Ave  cast  our  eyes  over  the  years,  Ave 
miss  the  beloved  faces  of  many  aaTo  started  A\ith  us  in 
this  work.  The  patriarch  Avhose  constant  presence 
and  prayers  at  our  meetings  Avere  a ceaseless  benedic- 
tion ; the  voice,  SAveetest  of  all  in  its  pleading  tones 


CRUSADE  AT  ATHENS. 


215 


for  the  right,  now  caught  up  into  the  angel  choir;  the 
ao-ed  mothers  in  Israel  who  led  in  feeble  strains  our 

o 

earthly  petitions,  now  strong  in  the  life  above,  and, 
with  the  door  scarce  closed  between  us,  the  man  of 
God,  who  strengthened  us  by  every  good  word  and 
work — “All  folded  their  pale  hands  so  meekly,” 
“ Spake  with  us  on  earth  no  more.” 

And  our  work- — what  shall  we  say  of  that?  To  the 
superficial  view  the  result  is  humiliatingly  meagre. 
Broken  promises  lie  scattered  along  the  past,  thick  as 
dead  leaves  in  autumn ; friends  grown  cold  and  faith- 
less, enemies  defiant  and  triumphant. 

But  to  the  vision  opened  by  faith  a fairer  view  is  re- 
vealed. In  that  unseen  realm,  where,  every  true 
prayer  here,  sparkles  with  its  own  divine  radiance,  and 
every  struggle  for  God  and  humanity  Is  wrought  into 
beauteous  form  and  color;  there  may  we  see,  un- 
dlmmed  by  the  mists  of  earth,  the  glorious  fabric  we 
have  helped  to  weave. 

Let  us  then  be  up  and  doing,  and  by  all  the  experi- 
ence of  the  past  two  years — richest  of  our  lives — and 
by  the  memory  of  our  cherished  dead,  renew  our  vows 
and  clasp  hands  again  for  the  work,  as  long  as  a 
brother  man  lies  In  the  sepulchre  of  drunken  degrada- 
tion, and  we  have  power  from  God  to  work. 

ATHENS,  OHIO. 

I am  Indebted  to  Miss  Helen  Walker  for  the 
following  facts : The  temperance  wave  touched  our 
place  on  the  evening  of  February  4th,  when  in  a little 
company  of  Christians,  a letter  from  McArthur  was 


CRUSADE  AT  ATHENS. 


216 

read,  speaking  of  the  work  there,  and  urging  the 
women  of  Athens  to  attempt  a similar  one  here. 

A prayer-meeting  was  appointed  for  eight  o’clock 
the  following  morning,  to  which  came  a number  of 
earnest  women,  and  a few  men  ready  to  encourage 
them.  Women  came  who  knew  what  it  was  to  see 
loved  ones  cast  away  strength,  and  talents,  and  all 
fear  of  God,  and  lie  down  in  a drunkard’s  grave;  and 
women  came,  who  in  secret,  with  tears,  had  been  cry- 
ing; “ How  long,  O Lord  ?” 

Since  the  commencement  of  this  work,  an  aged 
mother  in  Israel  has  often  remarked:  “No  one  knows 
how  the  evil  of  intemperance  has  burdened  my  heart 
during  the  past  winter.  Though  not  suffering  from  it 
in  my  own  family,  yet  to  see  so  many  young  men 
yielding  to  its  influence  made  one  tremble  for  the  fu- 
ture of  our  country.  Oh!  how  many  nights  I have 
besought  God  to  stay  this  evil.  There  were  times 
when  I could  pray  for  nothing  else.” 

No  doubt  other  Christians  in  our  land  had  this  sub- 
ject pressed  home  to  their  hearts  in  the  same  way, 
and  the  foundations  of  this  wide-spread  temperance 
revival  lies  in  such  prayers. 

Well,  the  women  who  met  on  that  morning  of 
February  5th,  1874,  organized  their  meeting,  chose 
President,  Vice-President,  and  Secretary,  drew  up 
pledges,  and  talked  of  the  work  before  them.  But 
beyond  all  that  they  cried  to  the  Lord  their  God,  and 
set  themselves  to  walk  carefully  before  Him,  and  seek 
His  guidance.  Other  prayer-meetings  followed  until 
the  day  fixed  upon  for  going  forth  to  the  saloons. 


CRUSADE  AT  ATHENS.  21  7 

Ah!  then  there  was  sinking  of  heart,  and  shrinking 
and  trembling. 

On  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  February  they  signi- 
fied, by  rising  to  their  feet,  their  willingness  to  go 
forth.  How  weak  they  felt,  yet  how  courageous,  and 
what  a strange  courage  is  that  which  accompanied 
trembling  limbs  and  tear-bedimmed  eyes.  Then  was 
illustrated  Paul’s  paradox,  “When  I am  weak,  then  am 
I strong.”  But  with  some  the  shrinking  so  prevailed 
over  faith,  that  they  went  not  up  to  the  battle  in  the 
beginning.  With  slow  steps  and  prayerful  hearts 
they  left  the  church,  after  joining  in  the  solemn  hymn  ; 

‘ ‘ A charge  to  keep  I have, 

A God  to  glorify.” 

They  walked  under  a heavy  burden  that  morning,  but 
trusting  in  the  Lord,  they  went  forth  feeling  in  their 
souls,  that  “He  had  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  which 
should  never  call  retreat.” 

Three  saloons  were  visited,  but  no  signatures  ob- 
tained, but  an  unseen  Leader  strengthened  their 
hearts.  One  of  the  number  said,  “When  I first  opened 
my  lips  to  pray,  my  heart  grew  light,  and  never  before 
did  I experience  such  a sacred  nearness  to  God.” 

In  the  afternoon  the  band  increased  in  numbers, 
and  they  visited  five  places,  still  no  signatures.  The 
following  day,  February  iith,  five  saloons  in  the  edge 
of  town  were  visited,  and  one  signature  obtained  on 
the  dealers’  pledge ; at  the  end  of  the  week  three 
druggists  and  two  dealers  had  signed  the  pledges 
presented  to  them ; a third  dealer  had  given  his 


2i8 


CRUSADE  AT  ATHENS. 


promise  not  to  sell,  and  a fourth  had  closed  his  saloon. 
These  two  names  were  afterwards  placed  upon  the 
pledge. 

During  the  next  week  prayer-meetings  were  held 
in  four  different  saloons,  which  also  had  been  visited 
the  previous  week.  Two  saloons  closed  this  week, 
one  saloonist  putting  his  name  on  the  pledge.  On 
Friday,  February  27th,  one  dealer  signed  the  dealers’ 
pledge,  and  the  personal  pledge  for  one  year.  The 
following  Monday,  March  2d,  still  another  dealer 
signed.  No  name  was  obtained  from  this  time  until 
three  weeks  had  elapsed,  but  on  the  afternoon  of 
March  25  th  the  last  druggist  signed  the  pledge,  and 
our  work  seemed  drawing  to  a close.  But  much  yet 
remained  to  be  done  to  give  permanence  to  what  had 
been  already  accomplished,  and  to  crown  the  work 
with  complete  success. 

But  still  they  keep  praying  for  those  who  had 
agreed  not  to  sell  or  drink  intoxicating  liquors.  They 
were  often  remembered  in  prayer  by  name,  that  God 
would  keep  them  faithful  to  their  pledges. 

One  day  when  the  workers  were  gathered  in  a 
place  which  seemed  strange  and  unfamiliar,  one  of  our 
number  spoke  in  these  words : “ Ever  since  I engaged 
in  this  work  I have  seemed  to  see  before  me  my 
Saviour  hanmnor  on  the  cross.  I see  Him  with  His 

o o 

bowed  head,  suffering,  dying  for  me,  and  I want  you 
all,  with  me,  to  think  of  this  when  our  work  seems 
heavy  to  us,  and  the  way  grows  wear^c  He  has  done 
so  much  for  us,  let  us  do  somewhat  for  Him.”  After 
that  sweet  appeal  their  hearts  burned  within  them, 


CRUSADE  AT  ATHENS. 


219 


and  did  they  not  draw  nearer  to  the  dear  cross  ? At 
other  times,  when  the  flesh  was  weary,  and  faith 
drooped,  how  a few  words  from  the  Bible  would  cheer 
them ! “ I will  lift  up  mine  eyes  to  the  hills,  from 

whence  cometh  my  help.  My  help  cometh  from  the 
Lord,  who  made  heaven  and  earth.  The  Lord  shall 
preserve  thy  going  out,  and  thy  coming  in,  from  this 
time  forth  even  forever  more.” 

Time  would  fail  to  recall  the  many  incidents  and 
memories  connected  with  this  work.  We  have  been 
more  than  repaid  for  all  our  weariness  and  anxiety,  by 
our  sweet  Christian  communion  with  each  other,  and 
with  Jesus,  and  by  seeing  this  cause,  which  is  of  the 
Lord,  prospering,  and  we  pray  that  he  will  still  carry  it 
on  to  a sure  completion. 

Laura  Ballard  adds  the  following : 

The  Crusade  work  in  our  town  was  characterized 
by  great  earnestness  and  spirituality ; and  those  of  us 
who  were  engaged  in  it  will  never  cease  to  thank  the 
Lord  for  the  part  we  were  permitted  to  take  in  it. 
The  sin  of  intemperance  is  very  far  from  being  done 
away  with  in  our  town  ; but  when  some  sneeringly  tell 
us,  “ the  woman’s  work  did  no  good,  things  are  worse 
than  before,”  we  can  only  say,  we  don’t  understand 
just  how,  and  why  it  is  ; but  we  know  that,  that  work 
was  of  the  Lord,  and  we  were  called  to  it,  and  the 
Lord  never  makes  mistakes. 

A temperance  prayer-meeting  has  been  kept  up 
ever  since  that  time,  and  is  now  well  attended.  We 
meet  during  the  warm  weather  at  eight  a.  m.,  on  Friday 
morning.  It  is  cheering  to  see  twelve  or  fourteen 

o t> 


2 20 


CRUSADE  AT  COLUMBUS. 


mothers  and  housekeepers  lay  aside  their  morning 
work  for  an  hour  of  earnest  pleading  with  the  Lord 
for  a blessing  on  those  who  never  pray  for  themselves. 

COLUMBUS,  OHIO. 

The  gospel  wave  of  temperance  had  cleared  many 
of  the  villages  of  Ohio  of  rum,  before  the  larger 
towns  engaged  in  the  movement.  The  work  in  the 
cities  was  undertaken  with  many  misgivings.  The 
saloons  were  so  numerous,  and  the  foreign  population 
so  large,  and  because  of  appetite,  or  interest  so  iden- 
tified with  the  liquor  business,  that  many  worthy 
Christian  people  advised  against  saloon  visitation.  A 
mob  and  bloodshed  might  be  the  result. 

But  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  the  women  met  daily  to 
counsel  with  each  other,  and  to  pray.  And  on  the  3d 
of  March,  while  at  prayer,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit  came  down 
upon  them,  and  fifty  women,  consecrated  to  God  and 
His  work,  rose  from  their  knees  and  marched  forth 
from  the  church  to  the  saloons.  Not,  however,  till 
they  set  the  great  bell,  hanging  in  the  steeple,  to 
ringing. 

The  tollingf  of  the  bell  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
people,  and  the  news  that  the  women  had  begun  a 
Crusade  against  rum,  spread  like  a flash,  and  in  a lew 
moments  vast  crowds  of  people  were  following  them. 

After  visiting  the  principal  hotels  and  saloons,  they 
returned  to  the  church,  and  a rousing  prayer-meeting 
followed.  Many  who  had  not  been  accustomed  to 
hear  the  gospel,  were  there  to  listen  to  the  songs  and 
prayers. 


CRUSADE  AT  COLUMBUS. 


221 


The  next  day  the  number  of  Crusaders  had  In- 
creased to  three  hundred,  and  there  was  great  enthu- 
siasm among  the  better  class  of  people.  As  the  women 
slowly  filed  out  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  many  of 
the  church-bells  were  rung.  Thousands  of  people 
lined  the  streets,  and  many  a “God  bless  you”  followed 
them.  But  the  German  beer-dealers  were  very  angry, 
and  were  determined  to  break  the  matter  up,  or  turn 
it  to  ridicule,  if  possible. 

One  saloon-keeper  had  provided  a brass  band,  and 
when  the  ladles  appeared  before  his  saloon,  the  band 
struck  up,  “ Shoo,  fly,  don’t  bother  me,”  and  many  of 
the  drunken  roughs  joined,  with  inharmonious  voices. 
But  the  ladies,  not  the  least  disconcerted,  sang  one  of 
their  sweet  gospel  songs ; and  many  a tear  was 
brushed  away  from  manly  cheeks,  as  amid  the  jargon 
they  lifted  their  gentle  voices  to  God  in  supplication 
for  these  wretched  lost  ones,  who  gloried  in  their 
shame.  The  band,  however,  changed  to  “ Home, 
sweet  home,”  and  they  were  followed  by  laughter  and 
jeers,  as  they  moved  away. 

The  saloon-keepers  rallied  their  forces.  Their 
wretched  victims,  crawled  out  of  their  dens,  to  join  in 
the  hooting  and  howling  with  which  they  greeted  the 
purest  and  best  women  of  the  city,  and  mock  prayer- 
meetings  were  held,  after  which  beer  was  freely  dis- 
pensed, without  pay.  It  was  evident  that  Satan’s  king- 
dom was  stirred,  and  a strong  stand  would  be  made 
against  the  Crusaders. 

Passing  through  Columbus,  about  this  time,  I caught 
a little  of  the  spirit  of  the  movement,  and  heard  many 
interesting  facts. 


222 


CRUSADE  AT  COLUMBUS. 


A Boston  gentleman,  who  boarded  the  train  at 
Columbus,  but  who  looked  back  wistfully  as  we  moved 
out  of  the  city,  told  me  that  he  went  there  prejudiced 
against  the  whole  movement.  He  could  not  reconcile 
it  with  his  ideas  of  social  propriety,  or  womanly  delicacy. 
But  curiosity  led  him  to  their  meetings,  and  he  had 
followed  them,  day  after  day,  through  the  streets,  till 
all  his  prejudices  were  gone.  It  had  given  him  a new 
view  of  Christianity,  as  an  aggressive  power  against 
sin.  He  never  had  been  so  impressed  with  gospel 
truth  in  all  his  life,  as  in  these  meetings  held  in  the 
streets  and  saloons.  The  solemnity  of  the  judgment 
day  rested  down  upon  the  masses  of  the  people ; 
others  acted  as  if  possessed  with  devils. 

It  was  an  awfully  solemn  sight,  to  see  arrayed  on 
the  one  side,  the  best  and  truest  Christian  women  of 
the  city,  with  earnest,  solemn  faces  bending  in  prayer, 
and  appealing  in  gentle,  eloquent  words  to  God,  in 
behalf  of  those  who  reviled  them,  and  who  were  ruin- 
ing their  homes  and  their  city ; while,  on  the  other 
side,  men  of  avarice  leered  at  them  from  behind  their 
counters,  and  the  bleared  and  bloated  victims  of  rum, 
with  the  leprosy  of  sin  written  all  over  their  faces, 
mocked  at  the  truths  which  alone  could  save  them 
from  a drunkard’s  grave  and  a drunkard’s  hell. 

“With  all  my  prejudices  against  women  speaking 
and  praying,”  said  he,  “ it  didn’t  take  me  long  to  deter- 
mine which  side  I would  take.  I have  stayed  a week 
here,  since  getting  through  with  business,  to  enjoy  the 
Crusade,  and  marvel  at  the  wonderful  works  of  God. 
Thank  God  for  the  Crusade!”  he  added,  reverently. 


MRS.  R.  B.  HAYES, 


CRUSADE  AT  COLUMBUS. 


223 


A German,  who  had  listened  with  unconcealed  in- 
terest, now  broke  in  upon  the  conversation. 

“You  b’lieves  in  dem  Crusaders?  I dinks  dem 
vimins  has  besser  be  at  home  mit  der  chil’ren.  I has 
von  goot  frien’  in  Columbus,  and  dese  vimins  spile 
hees  pisness  entirely  already.  Mine  frien’  is  von  nice 
man,  has  much  riches  already,  and  von  fine  house  and 
carriage,  and  everyding  so  nice.  But  dese  vimins 
come  so  much  singin’  and  brayin’,  and  so  much  foolish- 
ness, that  he  loses  much  money  already,  and  dey 
most  set  him  crazy  mit  der  brayin’.” 

“What  business  is  your  friend  in  ?”  I inquired. 

“ He  keeps  von  nice  lager  peer  saloon.” 

“ How  is  it  that  he  loses  money  ? The  women  don’t 
take  it.” 

“ He  give  away  so  much  peer  already  to  get  the 
peoples  to  come  dere  and  drink,  so  that  the  vimins  will 
be  ’fraid,  and  go  way  purty  soon.” 

“ The  women  don’t  want  him  to  give  away  his 
beer.” 

“Well,  dey  rob  him  ; dey  trive  the  people  from  der 
schop.” 

“ How  many  horses  and  drays  were  sold,  and  how 
many  women  and  children  did  he  rob,  that  he  might 
buy  a carriage  ?” 

He  took  the  hint  immediately,  and  spoke  up  with 
some  spirit — 

“ Dat  is  dere  pisness.  He  dakes  gare  of  hees  own 
wife  and  chil’ren.” 

“And  these  women  are  taking  care  of  their  business 
and  their  families,  by  breaking  up  his  trade.” 


224 


CRUSADE  AT  COLUMBUS, 


“ Dis  is  von  strange  countre — I never  vonce  see 
vimins  do  zat  in  Schermany.  Zis  is  no  free  countre 
any  more.  Good-day,  madame,  I goes  into  de  schmok- 
ing-car.” 

It  was  very  evident  that  the  mass  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen near  us  were  in  sympathy  with  the  Crusaders, 
from  the  undisguised  pleasure  they  took  in  the  hasty 
withdrawal  of  the  knight  of  the  beer  mug,  I saw  his 
face  no  more. 

On  the  20th  of  March  two  or  three  hundred  of  the 
women  of  Columbus,  marched  in  a procession  to  the 
State  Capitol,  and  held  a meeting  in  the  rotunda. 

The  members  of  both  houses  left  their  seats,  and 
stood  reverently,  with  uncovered  heads,  during  this 
meeting.  The  women  were  preparing  for  a struggle 
that  they  foresaw  would  come,  and  they  went  to  their 
work  boldly,  A bill  was  introduced  in  the  legislature 
to  protect  the  sale  of  ale  and  beer. 

The  women  met  it  with  counter-petitions,  and  mass- 
meetings.  Delegations  came  from  all  the  neighboring 
towns,  and  the  capitol  building  was  crowded  during 
every  session  with  the  friends  and  enemies  of  temper- 
ance. It  was  a hand-to-hand  fight  with  the  rum  power, 
and  the  women  gained  the  victory. 

On  the  1 8th  of  April  they  had  the  satisfaction,  after 
the  midnight  hour,  of  seeing  the  legislature  adjourn 
without  doing  anything  in  the  interest  of  rum, 

Columbus  contains  a large  foreign  element,  and  the 
work  was,  therefore,  the  more  difficult  and  dangerous: 
the  men  hooted,  blasphemed,  and  even  spit  upon  the 
kneeling  women.  While  the  women  were  at  prayer, 


CRUSADE  AT  VAN  WERT. 


225 


before  a saloon,  one  day,  a German  shouldered  a keg 
of  beer,  and  marched  dirough  the  prayer-circle,  and 
the  men  and  boys  set  up  an  unearthly  shouting  and 
screaming.  But  good  results  followed : several  saloons 
closed  out  business,  and  liquors  of  all  kinds  were  ban- 
ished from  the  Union  Depot;  many  men  reformed,  and 
many  citizens  signed  the  pledge,  among  them  James 
G.  Bull,  mayor  of  the  city.  At  a State  dinner,  soon 
after,  where  every  luxury  was  provided,  wine  was  ban- 
ished; such  was  the  advance  made  In  public  senti- 
ment. A State  dinner  without  wine  would  not  have 
been  thought  possible  before  the  Crusade.  And  so 
the  women  work  on,  looking  for  the  time  when  com- 
plete victory  shall  crown  their  efforts. 

VAN  WERT,  OHIO. 

The  work  began  about  the  loth  of  March,  1874. 

The  following  officers  were  chosen : President, 
Mother  Webster ; Vice-Presidents,  Mrs.  Elcock,  Mrs. 
Hines,  Mrs.  Kennedy,  Mrs.  Sevinford,  Mrs.  Richey ; 
Secretary/,  Mrs.  M.  J.  McFadden ; Executive  Com- 
mittee, Mrs.  M.  M.  Minger,  Mrs.  M.  Harnly. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  seemed  to  move  upon  the 
hearts  of  the  women.  A meeting  was  called  to  be 
held  at  the  M.  E.  Church.  I doubt  whether  any  one 
had  any  definite  plan  In  view. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Hines  (one  of  the  faithful  workers),  in 
relating  her  experience  of  those  days,  says : “ I heard 
of  the  meeting,  felt  quite  undecided  about  going;  but 
I felt  a restlessness,  and  could  not  be  satisfied  to  stay 
at  home.  I took  my  seat  in  the  back  part  of  the 


226 


CRUSADE  AT  VAN  WERT. 


church,  thinking  I would  not  say  a word.  Very  soon 
some  one  called  out,  ‘There  is  Mrs.  Hines:  let  us 
hear  what  she  thinks  of  this  movement ; ’ and  then, 
without  a moment’s  hesitation,  I said,  ‘ I thought  the 
work  would  be  a success,  that  God  was  about  to  an- 
swer the  prayers  of  those  crushed  women  and  chil- 
dren, who  had  felt  the  power  of  the  demon  drink  so 
long,  through  those  that  should  have  been  their  pro- 
tectors ; and  from  that  day  to  this  the  work  of  the 
Crusade  has  been  dear  to  my  heart.’  Another  says : 

“As  for  myself,  I remember  well  when  I first  heard 
the  work  talked  off.  I thought  if  it  ever  came  here,  I 
would  do  all  that  I could,  quietly,  so  that  it  would  not 
be  noticed ; but  firmly  determined  in  my  own  mind 
that  I never  would  go  into  a saloon  to  pray,  nor  go 
out  upon  the  streets,  under  any  circumstances,  or 
appear  in  public,  but  would  be  a silent  worker.  But 
nothinor  could  make  me  believe  that  the  Crusade  was 
not  the  direct  power  of  God  upon  the  hearts  of  His 
children.  The  work  was  inaugurated  at  that  first 

o 

meeting  I spoke  of,  and  almost  before  I had  time 
to  think,  I was  addressing  an  audience  of  hundreds. 
God  gave  me  power,  and  for  a year,  with  others,  I 
went  to  different  places  in  the  country  helping  to  de- 
feat license.  Ohio  gained  this  victory  through  the 
Crusade. 

“Although  of  a very  delicate  constitution,  I,  with  my 
sisters,  went  through  mud  and  slush,  standing  or 
kneeling  in  the  snow,  going  to  meetings  night  after 
night,  visiting  saloons  in  the  daytime,  and  through  it 
all,  and  all  the  opposition,  God  preserved  us  by  His 


CRUSADE  AT  VAN  WERT. 


227 


mighty  power,  and  to  His  name  be  all  the  glory.  After 
a while  the  number  thinned,  until  but  the  faithful  few 
remained.  Our  prayer-meetings  have  been  kept  up 
until  the  commencement  of  the  reformed  men’s  move- 
ment this  spring. 

“Our  aged  President,  Mother  Webster,  was  always 
a power  in  the  Crusade,  faithful  to  the  last. 

“During  the  first  week  of  the  work  in  Van  Wert, 
one  saloon-keeper,  a German,  who  had  always  been 
accustomed  to  drink  beer,  refused  the  ladies  admit- 
tance, while  his  wife  made  sport,  and  laughed  mock- 
ingly at  the  ladies.  But  one  morning,  when  the  band 
stopped  at  his  door,  he  admitted  them,  and  told  the 
ladies  he  had  sold  his  last  drop.  Then  there  was 
such  a joyful  hand-shaking,  and  a prayer-meeting  of 
thanksgiving. 

“Another  German,  who  was  poor  and  had  a family 
of  interesting  children,  was  very  much  opposed  to  the 
ladies’  visits.  For  some  time  they  were  refused  ad- 
mittance, and  prayers  were  offered  in  German  and 
English.  About  a week  afterward,  he  disposed  of  his 
liquors,  put  out  his  white  flag,  and  started  to  meet  the 
ladies,  telling  them  he  had  sold  his  last  drop  of  liquor. 
It  was  a sacrifice,  for  he  was  dependent  upon  his  daily 
labor  for  the  support  of  his  family.”  We  are  indebted 
to  Mrs.  M.  Harnly  and  Mrs.  Elcock  for  the  above 
facts. 

The  contest,  with  various  successes,  continued  until 
the  6th  of  March,  when  a decided  victory  was  gained 
at  the  municipal  election.  The  ladies  worked  and 
prayed,  and  many  of  the  temperance  men  were  ener- 


228 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


getic  and  persistent.  The  issue  was  squarely  made, 
“ whiskey  or  no  whiskey.”  The  temperance  candidates 
won  a decided  victory.  When  the  result  of  the  elec- 
tion became  known,  the  bells  rang  out  a joyous  peal, 
and  the  new  mayor-elect,  Mr.  T.  S.  Gilliland,  rolled  out 
a barrel  of  apples  that  were  in  his  office  as  a temper- 
ance treat.  A prohibitory  ordinance  was  passed,  and 
the  saloons  were  closed. 

CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 

There  was  much  prayerful  interest  in  Cincinnati. 
Many  of  the  best  women  of  the  church,  bending  low 
at  the  dear  Christ’s  feet,  were  asking  : “ What  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do?” 

The  difficulties  in  the  way  seemed  more  formidable 
for  saloon  work  there  than  at  any  point  in  the  State,  or 
perhaps  in  the  country.  But  these  consecrated  women 
were  ready  to  follow  the  Master  wherever  He  led. 

Cincinnati  was  a Qrreat  manufacturinof  centre.  The 
annual  trade  in  spirituous  and  malt  liquors  amounted 
to  over  ^33,000,000,  and  there  was  immense  capital 
invested  in  massive  buildings  and  machiner)'. 

One-third  of  the  population  of  the  city  were  Ger- 
mans, accustomed  to  beer-drinking,  which  tended  to 
make  the  traffic  respectable. 

Any  interference  with  the  trade  was  regarded  as  an 
attack  upon  their  personal  liberties.  Many  of  them 
were  ignorant  bigots  or  infidels,  who  were  ready,  on  any 
pretext,  to  cry  out  against  the  Bible  and  Puritanism, 
and  many  of  them  belonged  to  the  criminal  classes,  as 
the  police  records  will  show. 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


229 


To  meet  this  class  in  the  saloons  and  beer-cjardens, 
when  the  city  council  was  made  up  largely  of  men  in- 
terested in  the  traffic,  and  the  mayor  of  the  city  was 
ready  to  do  the  bidding  of  the  liquor  oligarchy,  was  a 
fearful  risk.  But  Christ  led  the  way  and  gave  the 
courasfe. 

The  first  saloon  visited  was  a fashionable  resort, 
called  the  “ Custom  House,”  next  door  to  the  Mer- 
chants’ Exchange.  The  house  was  well  patronized  by 
first-class  drinkers. 

The  time  chosen  was  the  lunch  hour,  when  many  of 
this  class  were  lingering  over  their  cups. 

The  women,  unheralded,  were  in  the  saloon  before 
any  of  them  had  time  to  escape.  In  a moment  an  im- 
mense crowd  was  surging  about  the  door,  and  escape 
was  impossible.  A prayer-meeting  was  held,  which 
lasted  about  half  an  hour. 

The  proprietor,  affecting  indifference,  invited  them 
to  “ come  again,”  an  invitation  which  they  accepted; 
but  when  they  visited  that  saloon  again  it  was  like  “ a 
banquet  hall  deserted ; ” the  merchants  and  fashionable 
drinkers  were  careful  not  to  be  caught  there  again. 

The  trade  began  to  be  interfered  with,  which  aroused 
bitter  opposition,  and  the  saloons  were  closed  against 
them. 

The  Esplanade,  a large,  paved  square  in  the  heart 
of  the  business  part  of  the  city,  and  the  market-places, 
became  praying-stations,  and  many  a season  of  prayer 
was  held  on  the  curbstones  opposite  saloons. 


230 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


A CRUSADE  DOG. 

A lady  in  one  of  the  bands  had  a large  Newfound- 
land dog,  that  always  accompanied  her. 

He  seemed  to  know  their  business.  He  would  walk 
before  them  with  stately  mien,  till  he  came  to  a saloon, 
and  then  stop  and  turn  around,  as  much  as  to  say; 
“ Here  is  work  for  you.”  He  would  walk  back  and 
forth  before  the  saloon  while  they  sang ; but  as  soon  as 
they  knelt  to  pray  he  would  go  and  set  himself  down 
on  his  haunches  beside  the  woman  who  lead  in  prayer, 
no  matter  if  she  were  a stranger,  and  reverently  main- 
tain his  position  till  the  prayer  was  ended.  Then  he 
would  start  briskly  off  to  look  for  another  saloon. 

It  is  said  that  he  showed  a decided  preference  for 
only  one  prayer  at  each  saloon.  Perhaps  he  knew  that 
there  were  nearly  three  thousand  in  that  great  city,  and 
feared  that  they  would  not  make  the  rounds,  unless  he 
hurried  them. 

A German  saloon-keeper  tried  to  set  his  dog  on  one 
of  the  bands,  (not  this  one,)  but  the  poor  brute  had 
more  sense,  and  politeness,  and  humanity,  than  his 
master,  and  wouldn’t  even  bark,  but  hung  his  head  in 
shame. 

One  day  the  crowd  about  the  Esplanade  was  very 
large  and  threatening.  Every  foot  of  space  was  occu- 
pied, and  all  the  streets  approaching  it  were  filled. 
But  the  ladies  had  advertised  a meeting  there,  and 
they  went  forth,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  to  face  the  howl- 
ing mob. 

They  marched  right  on,  two-and-two,  as  though  no 
crowd  menaced  them.  Many  temperance  men,  and 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


231 


order-loving  citizens,  were  there  mingling  with  the 
crowd,  determined  to  prevent,  if  possible,  a riot,  Mrs. 
Leavitt  led  the  band.  The  crowd  parted  as  they 
approached.  A scissors-grinder  had  been  hired  by 
the  rum  party,  for  twenty-five  dollars,  to  push  his  cart 
through  the  crowd,  ringing  his  bells.  He  undertook 
the  job,  but  his  cart  was  broken  into  a thousand  pieces, 
and  he  was  arrested  and  marched  off  to  jail,  and  sub- 
sequently fined  fifty  dollars.  So  his  enterprise  did 
not  pay.  Mrs.  Leavitt  gave  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  beginning  of  the  Crusade,  at  one 
of  the  mass-meetings  held  in  connection  with  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  National  Union  at  Newark, 
which  was  reported  by  Miss  M.  E.  Winslow  for  The 
Morning,  from  which  we  copy  : 

“ People  at  the  East  have  little  idea  of  what  the 
Crusade  really  was.  One  of  our  local  papers  described 
its  opening  in  these  terms : ‘ Hell  on  earth ! The 
devil  woke  up!  The  women  on  their  knees!’  I 
always  knew  that  liquor  was  an  awful  thing,  but  I felt 
no  responsibility  about  it,  and  when  I first  heard  of  the 
Crusading  in  Hillsboro’  and  Washington  Court-House, 
I felt  in  my  heart,  though  I did  not  say  so,  that  it  was 
a prostitution  of  prayer.  But  there  came  to  that  city 
of  '^,000  saloons,  (open  twenty-four  hours  of  every  day, 
and  seven  days  of  every  week,  with  an  average  of 
1 5,000  men  pouring  out  death  by  the  glass  all  the  time,) 
a call  for  the  women  to  meet  and  consider  the  subject 
in  a certain  church.  I went  to  my  room  and  asked 
the  Lord  what  I should  do.  It  was  a short  prayer,  for 
in  ten  minutes  I was  at  the  corner  with  my  hat  on,  on 
my  way. 


232  CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI, 

“ The  church  was  fuller  than  I had  ever  known  it, 
women,  old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  praying  and 
sobbing ; and  such  prayers  I had  never  heard.  In  an 
houror-two  about  eighty  of  us  started — I hardly  know 
how  we  did  it — for  one  of  the  most  fashionable  saloons. 
The  wealth  represented  by  those  eighty  women  being 
over  ^3,000,000.  We  walked  two-by-two  ; some  men 
blessed  us  as  we  passed,  and  some  cursed.  We  went 
into  the  ‘sample-room,’  and  asked  permission  for  a 
moment  of  prayer,  which  was  granted.  You  can 
imagine  the  praying  we  did,  as  we  agonized  that  Jesus 
Christ  would  come  and  convert  that  rum-seller.  Eigfht 
thousand  people  had  gathered  outside  in  a few 
moments.  I had  never  opened  my  mouth  to  pray  in 
public  before,  but  God  opened  it  now.  We  were  there 
thirty  or  forty  minutes,  and  then  went  out,  where  men 
pointed  a finger  of  scorn  at  us,  and  every  one  thought 
we  would  be  crushed.  But  we  never  felt  so  near 
heaven  as  we  did  then.  We  walked  homeward,  sing- 
ing, ‘There  is  a Fountain  filled  with  blood.’  Every 
day  after  that  we  met  at  nine  o’clock,  and  went  out  in 
bands  every  hour,  visiting  different  saloons,  hundreds 
followinof  us. 

“ One  day  I led  a band  of  eighty,  or  a hundred  to  the 
Esplanade.  The  authorities  had  said  this  must  be  put 
down,  and  the  mayor  had  privately  given  orders  to 
the  police  to  ‘ be  scarce  where  the  women  were.’ 
We  did  not  know  that;  and  after  visiting  fourteen 
saloons,  we  marched  towards  the  Esplanade,  where  we 
found  a dense  mass  of  several  thousand  men  awaiting 
us.  I heard  a man  say,  ‘Jack,  a woman’s  foot  shan’t 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


233 


TOUCH  THE  Esplanade  to-day  ! ’ And  I said,  ‘ Lord, 
give  us  the  Esplanade.’  One  great  brutal-looking 
fellow  stood  in  my  way,  debauched  and  degraded,  yet 
with  a look  which  told  there  was  a heart  somewhere. 
I took  it  for  granted  this  was  Jack.  Bless  God  for 
woman’§  intuition.  I walked  right  up  to  him  and  said, 
‘Jack!’  He  started  as  if  he  wondered  how  I knew 
his  name.  ‘Jack,  we  are  a band  of  broken-hearted 
mothers  and  wives,  weeping  and  praying  because  you 
are  all  going  to  hell  as  fast  as  you  can  go.  We  want 
to  pray  here,  right  by  this  fountain,  and  I want  you  to 
make  way  for  us  and  keep  the  men  still  till  we  get 
through  our  service.’ 

“ First  he  looked  like  thunder;  then  he  looked  fool- 
ish; then  I smiled  sweetly  at  him  (always  smile  at  a 
man  if  you  want  him  to  do  what  he  don’t  want  to), 
and  he  said,  with  a fearful  oath,  ‘ I’ll  do  it.  Make 
way  for  the  Crusaders!’  and  as  he  forced  his  great, 
brawny  shoulders  through  the  crowd,  many  voices 
shouted, 

‘GOD  BLESS  THE  CRUSADERS!’ 

I never  asked  the  Lord  for  a policeman  again.  I’d 
rather  have  Jack.  At  last  we  stood  close  to  that 
central  fountain,  which  is  the  glory  of  Cincinnati,  and 
sang,  ‘Jesus  the  water  of  life  will  give,’  and  I think 
there  must  have  been  joy  among  the  angels  of  God 
at  the  chorus  that  rung  through  the  square.  Then 
we  sang  ‘Rock  of  Ages,’  and  then  I talked  to  the 
crowd.  I forgot  all  about  the  liquor  saloons,  and 
thought  only  of  Jesus  Christ  upon  the  cross.  I then 


234 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


called  upon  all  who  wanted  to  be  saved  and  have  us 
pray  for  tliem  to  kneel  down,  and  2,000  men,  mostly 
reeking  with  the  fumes  of  rum  and  tobacco,  knelt 
there  on  the  pavement  seeking  Christ,  with  tears  and 
sobs. 

“The  next  day  our  church  was  so  full  that  we  were 
obliged  to  have  some  place  to  hold  an  overflow  meet- 
ing, and  we  telegraphed  to  Rev.  Mr.  Beecher  (nephew 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher),  that  we  must  have  his 
church  in  ten  minutes.  ‘Ten  minutes,  do  you  say? 
You  shall  have  it  in  five,’  was  the  answer,  and  in  ten 
minutes  it  was  packed  to  overflowing ; and  afterward 
we  held  two  daily  meetings.” 

One  of  the  regular  meeting-places  of  the  praying- 
bands  of  Cincinnati  was  a large,  open  market-house. 
Thousands  gathered  there  daily.  The  place  and  all 
the  avenues  leading  to  it  were  usually  well  filled. 
But  one  day,  as  the  band  of  women  approached,  they 
found  an  unusually  vile  and  belligerent  crowd.  Butch- 
ers fresh  from  their  stalls,  with  their  sleeves  rolled 
up,  and  their  bloody  aprons  on,  and  their  butcher 
knives  in  their  hands ; villanous-looking  men  with 
ugly  pistols  protruding  from  their  pockets;  and  women 
debased  by  strong  drink,  uttering  curses,  were  all 
huddled  together,  while  just  across  the  street  a cannon 
had  been  placed  so  as  to  sweep  the  market-house  if 
fired. 

Altogether,  the  circumstances  were  anything  but 
encouraofino;.  But  the  women  marched  riMit  on  to 

00  O 

their  usual  meeting-place  in  the  centre  of  the  open 
space  and  began  to  sing: 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


235 


“There  is  a fountain  filled  with  blood, 
Drawn  from  Immanuel’s  veins, 

And  sinners  plunged  beneath  that  flood 
Lose  all  their  guilty  stains.” 


The  crowd  was  somewhat  hushed  into  respectful 
silence  by  the  singing.  Mrs.  Leavitt,  who  led  the 
band  that  day,  made  the  opening  prayer.  As  they 
knelt  on  the  paving  stones  she  found  herself  facing  the 
cannon,  with  a possibility  of  its  being  fired. 

The  crowd,  that  seemed  to  expect  such  an  event, 
surged  to  either  side  so  as  to  be  well  out  of  the  way. 
But  her  consecration  to  God  covered  all  that,  and  she 
remembers  saying  to  herself:  “If  God  wants  to  take 
me,  as  He  did  Elijah,  to  heaven  in  a chariot  of  fire,  I 
would  just  as  soon  go  that  way  as  any  other.”  And 
she  thought  no  more  about  the  cannon  or  the  vile 
men  with  knives  and  pistols,  but  prayed  straight  up  to 
God  for  the  perishing  multitudes  about  her.  And 
there  came  down  upon  the  people  such  mighty  awa- 
kening power,  that  the  most  desperate  and  unbelieving 
bowed  their  heads,  and  tears  streamed  down  many  a 
sin-scarred  face. 

And  when  the  meeting  was  over,  and  they  invited 
the  people  to  come  with  them  to  the  house  of  God, 
many  followed  them  to  the  church,  and  hundreds  re- 
mained to  pray. 

The  placing  of  the  cannon  was  a trick  to  frighten 
the  women,  but  it  did  not  succeed  ; and  as  they  took 
no  notice  of  it,  the  experiment  was  never  repeated. 
The  falling  off  in  the  liquor  traffic  in  Cincinnati  was 
very  great ; the  trade  in  the  leading  houses  in  that 
business  losing  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars. 


236 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


During  the  first  six  months  of  the  Crusade,  in  the 
United  States  Revenue  District  in  which  Cincinnati  is 
situated,  the  falling  off  in  the  revenue  on  liquor  alone 
was  about  ^3,000,000.  And  such  was  the  interest, 
that  one  day  the  Merchants’  Exchange  suspended,  at 
least  for  a time,  their  business,  to  follow  a few  women 
who  modestly  and  quietly  sang  and  prayed  on  the 
Esplanade,  or  before  the  large  saloons  near  by. 

At  first,  the  manufacturers  and  dealers  laughed  at 
the  attempt  of  the  women  to  call  public  attention  to 
the  traffic.  But  when  they  saw  that  this  was  effectually 
done,  and  that  they  were  losing  by  thousands,  they 
were  wild  with  rage. 

I overheard  a conversation  between  two  Cincinnati 
liquor-dealers  at  the  time. 

They  were  seated  just  behind  me  in  a railroad  car, 
so  I could  but  choose  to  hear ; and  the  curses  they 
heaped  upon  Christian  women  were  loud  and  deep; 
almost  every  word  was  emphasized  with  an  oath. 

“We  must  do  something  to  stop  this  horrid  thing, 
or  we  are  ruined,”  said  one. 

“The  press  has  played  the  mischief  with  us,”  ex- 
claimed the  other,  “ by  publishing  their  movements. 
We  must  buy  up  the  press.  If  they  don’t  stop  writing 
about  it,  we  must  withdraw  all  our  advertisements. 
Let  this  be  a united  thing  with  us,  and  they  will  soon 
have  to  look  after  their  own  bread  and  butter.  These 
women  have  cut  down  my  sales  more  than -$20,000 
this  spring.” 

“The  mayor  and  city  council  ought  to  do  something 
before  the  city  is  ruined.  They  are  a pack  of  fools 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI.  237 

to  let  a few  praying  women  ruin  our  business  in  this 
way.” 

And  then  they  talked  and  planned  earnestly.  The 
press  was  to  be  dealt  with,  the  mayor  brought  to  issue 
a proclamation  against  the  women,  forbidding  their 
singing  and  praying  on  the  streets,  etc. 

The  mayor  and  city  council  were  quite  willing  to 
serve  the  rum  cause,  as  results  show. 

The  ladies  soon  after  were  informed  that  they  could 
no  longer  hold  meetings  in  the  streets,  but  must  con- 
fine themselves  to  the  public  squares  and  market 
places,  unless  a saloon-keeper  chose  to  open  his  doors 
to  them. 

They  obeyed  orders,  and  went  on  with  their  work 
in  the  places  designated.  But  one  clay,  while  one  of 
the  bands  was  quietly  walking  up  the  street,  they  were 
met  and  surrounded  by  a mob  of  the  vilest  men  and 
women  in  the  city.  They  were,  no  doubt,  sent  out  by 
the  dealers  to  intimidate  the  women,  and  received  their 
reward  in  strong  drink  on  their  return. 

The  mayor  also,  accompanied  by  his  private  secre- 
tary, came  to  them  and  earnestly  appealed  to  the  ladies 
to  quit  their  work  and  go  home. 

“I’ll  not  be  responsible  for  your  safety  unless  you 
do.  For  God’s  sake,  ladies,  desist.” 

The  ladies  in  turn  appealed  to  him  to  disperse  the 
mob.  They  were  quiet,  unoffending  citizens,  walking 
the  streets,  which  was  their  right ; and  as  for  their 
lives,  they  relied  on  God,  not  on  him.  All  the  while 
this  parley  was  going  on,  the  vile  drunken  mob  was 
hooting  and  howling. 


238  CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  disperse  them.  But  the 
mayor  was  exceedingly  annoyed  with  the  violence  and 
obscenity  of  a German  woman  near  him,  and  turning 
upon  her  he  commanded  silence.  “ Shame  ! shame  ! 
such  indecency.”  But  the  words  were  scarcely  out  of 
his  mouth  till  she  began  cursing  him,  and  the  mob 
uttering  a horrid  yell  rushed  toward  him.  He  raised 
his  hand,  waving  them  back  ; but  they  came  on  like  a 
herd  of  wild  cattle,  pushing  each  other  forward,  whirl- 
ing him  like  a top  from  the  sidewalk  into  the  gutter. 
His  secretary  ran  like  a frightened  deer,  and  the 
mayor,  as  soon  as  he  could  gather  up  himself  and  find 
his  hat,  followed  suit.  They  remembered  Lot’s  wife, 
and  never  looked  behind  them.  Some  of  the  women 
of  the  band  had  been  knocked  down  ; but  they  soon 
fell  into  line,  and  now  that  the  mob  was  behind  them, 
marched  down  into  the  heart  of  the  city,  singing, 

“ Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee, 

Even  though  it  be  a cross. 

That  raiseth  me.” 

The  insults  offered  to  the  ladies  aroused  a feeling 
of  indignation,  and  an  address  was  prepared,  and  a 
committee  of  gentlemen  appointed  to  present  it  to  the 
mayor.  The  reading  of  the  paper  brought  on  a discus- 
sion, in  which  the  mayor  said  it  would  take  all  the 
police  force  within  twenty-four  square  miles  of  the  city 
to  protect  the  ladies. 

Dr.  Payne — “ Do  we  understand  you  to  say  that 
you  are  powerless  in  the  hands  of  a mob  ? ” 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


239 


Mayor  Johnson — “It  would  appear  so  from  the 
practical  experience  of  yesterday  afternoon.” 

Dr.  Payne — “ Then,  sir,  it  is  high  time  that  the  pulpit 
began  to  thunder,  and  that  all  good  men  should  arise, 
and  see  that  men  are  elected  who  will  enforce  the 
law.” 

The  committee  then  entered  upon  a defence  of 
the  rights  of  women  to  go  upon  the  streets  as  they 
had  been  doing,  notwithstanding  the  riotous  crowds 
which  surrounded  them,  and  the  disorders  consequent 
thereon,  which  point  the  mayor  met  by  saying,  that  he 
believed  with  Lincoln,  that  the  blow  should  be  aimed 
at  the  cause. 

Dr.  Payne — “Yes,  but  the  cause  is  the  liquor  traffic, 
not  these  women.” 

Dr.  Taylor — “We  only  claim  their  rights,  and  if 
women  cannot  be  protected  by  law,  the  result  will  be 
that  neither  can  we,  and  the  blow  that  strikes  them, 
strikes  us.  If  they  be  prosecuted  for  praying,  so  may 
I.  The  same  mob  spirit  that  attacked  women  yester- 
day, may  attack  citizens.  If  we  cannot  obtain  protec- 
tion, by  addressing  you,  where  shall  we  go  ?” 

In  the  course  of  the  conversation,  the  mayor  said, 
that  the  whole  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  were 
opposed  to  the  women. 

Immediately  following  this  interview  the  mayor 
issued  a proclamation,  addressed : To  the  ladies  compos- 
ing the  Temperance  League ; forbidding  them  to  hold 
meetings  on  the  streets,  basing  this  action  on  an  old 
sidewalk  ordinance  that  had  been  a dead  letter  for 
years. 


240 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


I quote  again  from  Mrs.  Leavitt’s  speech. 

“ By  this  time  there  was  such  a falling  off  in  the 
liquor  trade  that  the  mayor  and  common  council, 
twenty-three  of  whose  members  were  in  the  liquor 
trade,  said  the  Crusade  must  be  stopped ; so  they 
raked  up  an  old  sidewalk  ordinance  which  said  that  no 
group  of  more  than  three  should  occupy  the  sidewalk 
at  any  one  place  and  time.  But  we  knew  nothing  of 
it,  and  we  went  to  a saloon  where  we  were  denied 
admittance,  so  we  knelt  outside.  The  pavement  was 
eighteen  feet  wide,  of  which  we  occupied  about  thirty 
inches.  I was  leader  that  day,  and  gave  out,  ‘ Rock 
of  Ages,  cleft  for  me,’  when  a policeman  laid  his  hand 
on  my  shoulder,  and  said,  'Mrs.  Leavitt,  you  ajx  tinder 
arrest!'  ‘All  right,’  said  I.  ‘Let  me  hide  myself  in 
Thee.’  And  then  we  prayed  for  that  policeman,  and 
for  the  others,  and  for  the  crowd.  We  tried  the 
patience  of  that  policeman  a little,  for  our  ser\nce 
lasted  sixty  minutes.  Some  shouted,  some  cried,  but 
all  were  happy ; and  then  we  rose  and  walked  in  an 
orderly  manner,  two  by  two,  about  two  miles,  to  the 
station  house.  As  soon  as  we  g^ot  there  we  kneeled 
down  and  prayed  again,  and  then  they  asked  our 
names,  nativity,  and  ages.  They  took  mine  first,  and 
while  they  were  taking  the  others,  I thought  may  be 
the  Lord  had  something  for  me  to  do  there  ; so  I went 
round  to  the  cells  and  talked  with  the  inmates.  In 
one  I found  a boy  of  eighteen,  who  said,  ‘I  wouldn’t 
have  my  mother  know  I am  here  for  all  the  world.  I 
came  in  under  an  assumed  name.  Did  you  ? ’ So  I 
visited  every  cell,  and  pointed  ever)*  prisoner  to 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


241 


Christ,  I tried  to  guess  a conundrum  (I  never 
guessed  one  in  my  life),  and  I will  give  it  to  you. 
‘ How  is  it  that  every  one  I spoke  to  was  put  in  for 
drunkenness,  and  we  forty-three  women  were  brought 
there  for  trying  to  put  it  down  ? ’ We  expected  to  be 
sent  to  the  workhouse  for  thirty  days ; so  presently 
the  husband  of  one  of  our  number  came  in,  and  asked 
in  the  most  touching  tones,  ‘ What  shall  I do  with  the 
baby?'  ‘Go  home  and  feed  him,’  said  his  wife,  ‘I 
wouldn’t  be  got  off  for  twenty  babies.’  Then  the 
mayor  came  in.  You  have  heard  of  the  man  who 
drew  the  elephant  in  a lottery,  and  then  didn’t 
know  what  to  do  with  it.  The  mayor  looked  just 
like  that  man.  At  last,  when  we  had  stayed  two 
hours,  the  common  council  excused  us  till  Monday 
on  parole.  So  we  marched  back  to  the  church,  and 
gave  our  report,  and  it  seemed  as  though  the  roof 
would  come  off  with  the  ring  of  the  doxology  that  fol- 
lowed. 

“ On  Monday  morning  we  went  to  the  police  court, 
and  while  they  were  trying  the  prisoners  for  drunken- 
ness, we  who  were  arrested  for  trying  to  stop  them  from 
drinking  went  round,  preached  Christ,  and  got  twenty 
signatures  to  our  pledge.  When  our  turn  came  they 
did  not  know  what  to  do  with  us.  We  had  put  on  all 
our  best  things,  and  though  I say  it,  were  forty-three 

OF  THE  PRETTIEST-LOOKING  WOMEN  YOU  EVER  SAW,  and 

all  just  as  happy  as  could  be.  Six  of  us  were  minis- 
ters’ wives,  three  wives  of  rich  bankers,  and  all  the 
rest  of  wealthy  citizens.  At  last  they  told  us  we  had 
been  naughty,  but  they  would  forgive  us  this  time 
16 


242 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


if  we  wouldn’t  do  so  any  more.  We  went  back  to  the 
church,  and  a few  of  us  went  out  crusading. 

“ But  we  didn’t  want  to  break  the  law,  and  just  at 
this  time  the  Crusade  began  to  change  its  form  from 
active  crusading  into  steady,  organized  work ; so  we 
only  went  out  in  parties  of  three  or  four,  and  we  have 
been  doing-  this  ever  since.” 

The  city  officers  and  the  police  force  were  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  liquor  traffic,  and  the  arrest  of  the  ladies 
was  a part  of  a well-concerted  plan  to  break  down  the 
temperance  work. 

We  must  not  omit  to  give  the  names  of  the  forty- 
three  women  arrested  and  thrust  into  the  common  jail : 

Mrs.  Rev.  S.  K.  Leavitt,  Mrs.  Rev.  W.  1.  Fee,  Mrs. 
Rev.  C.  H.  Taylor,  Mrs.  D.  H.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Charles 
Folger,  Sarah  Shipley,  Mary  Whitaker,  Mrs.  May  A. 
French,  Mrs.  Olive  Roseboom,  Mrs.  Lottie  Oldrieve, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  R.  Harvey,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Whiteman,  Miss 
Ellen  King,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Massey,  Miss  Kate  M.  War- 
den, Miss  Helen  Russell,  Miss  Susan  Sutton,  Miss 
Annie  Nunn,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Squire,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Mont- 
ford,  Mrs.  Ellen  Hewson,  Mrs.  Whitredge,  Mrs.  Rev. 
C.  H.  Payne,  Mrs.  Rev.  A.  McHugh,  Mrs.  Dr.  Carter, 
Mrs.  S.  J.  H.  Elstner,  Mary  White,  Mrs.  Kate  Traugh, 
Mrs.  Maria  Stevens,  Mrs.  A.  V.  Crum,  Mrs.  H.  Rob- 
inson, Miss  Lottie  Nunn,  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  McKenzie, 
Mrs.  May  Francis,  Miss  May  Talbot,  Miss  Jennie 
Forbes,  Miss  Mary  Scott,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Dalton,  Miss 
Eliza  Hughes,  Mrs.  Frederick  Hanbold,  Mrs.  Mary 
Warner,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Mance,  Mrs.  Wealthy  Eisk. 

Dr.  Fowler,  of  Chicago,  who  happened  to  be  in  the 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


243 


city  at  the  time,  and  went  with  them  to  the  jail,  at  a 
mass-meeting  said:  “Although  I do  not  belong  to  this 
city,  I say  as  an  old  heathen  said,  ‘ Whatever  concerns 
mankind,  concerns  me.’  Not  only  the  immortal  forty- 
three,  but  every  woman  in  the  land  went  down  into 
the  streets  yesterday,  and  was  scoffed  and  jeered  at 
by  those  who  stood  in  the  saloon  doors.  You  are  not 
alone.  All  the  good  people  of  the  land  say,  ‘You  are 
fighting  our  battle,’  and  from  10,000  pulpits  are  going 
up  prayers  for  those  who  have  made  one  bright  page 
on  the  records  of  the  police  courts.  The  day  may 
come  when  you  can  sell  that  page  for  money,  enough 
to  buy  all  the  saloons  in  the  city.”  (Applause.) 

Stirring,  eloquent  speeches  were  also  made  by  Dr. 
C.  H.  Payne,  Mr.  Rowland,  Rev.  S.  K.  Leavitt ; and 
Mrs.  Leavitt  followed  with  a solemn,  earnest  appeal, 
that  brought  nearly  all  the  men  and  women  in  the 
house  to  their  feet. 

There  was  a meeting  of  citizens  of  the  first  ward, 
and  a protest  was  prepared  and  sent  to  the  mayor 
and  city  council — a protest,  strongly  condemning  their 
action  and  calling  upon  them  to  maintain  law  and 
order. 

Nearly  all  the  pulpits  of  Cincinnati  thundered 
against  the  liquor  traffic,  a strong  public  sentiment 
was  created,  and  the  women  have  gone  steadily  on 
with  their  work  from  that  day  to  this.  A large  num- 
ber of  meetings  are  sustained  in  various  parts  of 
the  city,  and  at  Walnut  Hills;  tens  of  thousands  have 
signed  the  pledge,  and  it  is  no  longer  respectable  to 
sell  or  drink  intoxicating  liquors  in  Cincinnati. 


244 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


A large  hall  has  been  secured  for  head-quarters, 
where  meetings  are  held  daily,  and  their  influence  is 
felt  throughout  the  entire  city. 

WHITE  SHOES  AND  WHITE  DRESSES. 

One  morning,  during  the  Crusade,  a drunkard’s  wife 
called  on  Mrs.  Leavitt.  She  carried  a babe  in  her 
arms  only  six  weeks  old,  and  was  pale  and  weak  from 
sickness  and  fasting,  and  this  was  her  pitiful  story: 

“ My  husband  is  drinking  himself  to  death;  he  is  lost 
to  all  humane  feeling;  our  rent  is  unpaid,  and  we  are 
liable  to  be  put  out  into  the  street,  and  there  is  no 
food  in  the  house  for  me  and  the  children.  He  has  a 
good  trade,  but  his  earnings  all  go  into  the  saloon  on 
the  corner  near  us;  he  is  becoming  more  and  more 
brutal  and  abusive.  We  seem  to  be  on  the  verge  of 
ruin.  How  can  I,  feeble  as  I am,  with  a babe  in  my 
arms,  earn  bread  for  myself  and  children?” 

“Why  not  have  your  husband  converted?”  ques- 
tioned Mrs.  Leavitt,  as  the  drunkard’s  wife  finished 
her  sad  story. 

“ Oh,  there  is  no  hope  of  such  a thing.  He  cares 
for  nothing  but  rum.” 

“I’ll  come  and  see  him  this  afternoon.” 

“ He’ll  insult  you.” 

“ No  matter;  my  Saviour  was  insulted,  and  the  ser- 
vant is  not  above  His  Lord.” 

That  very  afternoon  Mrs.  Leavitt  called  at  the  little 
tenement  house.  The  husband  was  at  work  at  his 
trade  in  a little  back  room,  and  one  of  the  children 
was  sent  to  tell  him  that  a lady  wished  to  see  him. 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI.  245 

The  child,  however,  soon  returned  with  the  message  : 

My  pa  says  he  won’t  see  any  one.” 

“You  go  back  and  tell  your  pa,”  said  Mrs.  Leavitt, 
in  her  energetic  way,  “ that  a lady  wishes  to  see  him 
on  very  important  business,  and  she  must  see  him,  if 
she  has  to  stay  till  after  supper.” 

She  knew  there  was  nothing  in  the  house  to  eat. 
A moment  afterward  a poor,  bloated,  besotted  wreck 
of  a man  stood  before  her. 

“What  do  you  want?”  he  demanded,  as  he  came 
shuffling  into  the  room. 

“ Please  be  seated  and  look  at  this  paper,”  she 
answered,  pointing  to  a vacant  chair  at  the  other  end 
of  the  table  at  which  she  was  sitting,  and  handing  a 
printed  pledge  to  him. 

He  read  it  slowly,  and  then,  throwing  it  down  upon 
the  table,  broke  out  violently : 

“ Do  you  think  I’m  a fool?  * I’ll  drink  when  I please, 
and  let  it  alone  when  I please.  I’m  not  going  to  sign 
away  my  personal  liberty.” 

“Do  you  think  you  can  stop  drinking?” 

“Yes  : I could  if  I wanted  to.” 

“I  think  you’re  a slave  to  the  rum-shop  down  on 
the  corner.” 

“No!” 

“ Then  you  love  the  saloon-keeper’s  daughter  better 
than  you  do  your  own  little  girl.” 

“ No,  I don’t,  either.” 

“When  I came  by  the  saloon-keeper’s  house  I saw 
his  little  girl  coming  down  the  steps,  and  she  had  on 
white  shoes,  and  a white  dress,  and  a blue  sash.  Your 


246 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


money  helped  to  buy  them.  I come  here,  and  your 
little  girl,  more  beautiful  than  she,  has  on  a faded, 
ragged  dress,  and  her  feet  are  bare.” 

“That’s  so,  madam.” 

“And  you  love  the  saloon-keeper’s  wife  better  than 
you  love  your  own  wife.” 

“Never;  no,  never  ! ” 

“ When  I came  by  the  saloon-keeper’s  house,  I saw 
his  wife  come  out  with  the  little  girl,  and  she  was 
dressed  in  silks  and  laces,  and  a carriage  awaited  her. 
Your  money  helped  to  buy  the  silks  and  laces,  and 
the  horses  and  the  carriage.  I come  here,  and  I find 
your  wife  in  a faded  calico  gown,  doing  her  own  work: 
if  she  goes  anywhere,  she  must  walk.” 

“You  speak  the  truth,  madam.” 

“You  love  the  saloon-keeper  better  than  you  love 
yourself.  You  say  you  can  keep  from  drinking  if  you 
choose ; but  you  helped  the  saloon-keeper  to  build 
himself  a fine  brick  house,  and  you  live  in  this  poor, 
tumble-down  old  house  yourself.” 

“ I never  saw  it  in  that  light  before.”  Then,  holding 
out  his  hand  that  shook  like  an  aspen  leaf,  he  con- 
tinued: “You  speak  the  truth,  madam — I am  a slave. 
Do  you  see  that  hand  ? I have  a piece  of  work  to  fin- 
ish, and  I must  have  a mug  of  beer  to  steady  my  nerves, 
or  I cannot  do  it ; but  to-morrow,  if  you’ll  call.  I’ll  sign 
the  pledge.” 

“ That’s  a temptation  of  the  devil ; I did  not  ask  you 
to  sign  the  pledge.  You  are  a slave,  and  cannot  keep 
it.  But  I do  want  to  tell  you  this : There  is  One  who 
can  break  your  chains  aiid  set  you  free” 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


247 


“I  want  to  be  free.” 

“Well,  Christ  can  set  you  free,  if  you’ll  submit  to 
Him,  and  let  Him  break  the  chains  of  sin  and  appetite 
that  binds  you.” 

“ It’s  been  many  a long  year  since  I prayed.” 

“No  matter;  the  sooner  you  begin  the  better  for 
you.” 

He  threw  himself  at  once  on  his  knees,  and  while 
Mrs.  Leavitt  prayed  she  heard  him  sobbing  out  the  cry 
of  his  soul  to  God. 

The  wife  followed  Mrs.  Leavitt  in  an  earnest  prayer. 
The  words  were  simple  and  broken  with  sobs,  but 
somehow  they  went  straight  up  from  her  crushed  heart 
to  God,  and  the  poor  man  began  to  cry  in  earnest  for 
mercy. 

“O  God!  break  these  chains  that  are  burning  into 
my  soul!  Pity  me,  and  pity  my  wife  and  children,  and 
break  the  chains  that  are  dragging  me  down  to  hell. 
O God!  be  merciful  to  me,  a sinner.”  And  thus  out 
of  the  depths  he  cried  to  God,  and  He  heard  him  and 
had  compassion  upon  him,  and  broke  every  chain  and 
lifted  every  burden;  and  he  arose  a free,  redeemed 
man. 

When  he  arose  from  his  knees  he  said:  “Now  I will 
sign  the  pledge,  and  keep  it.”  And  he  did.  A family 
altar  was  built,  the  comforts  of  life  were  soon  secured 
— for  he  had  a good  trade — and  two  weeks  after  this 
scene,  his  two  little  girls  came  into  the  Sunday-school, 
with  white  shoes,  and  white  dresses,  and  bhie  sashes  on, 
as  a token  that  his  money  no  longer  went  into  the 
saloon-keeper’s  till. 


248 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


But  the  lesson  that  should  impress  us  most  is,  that 
this  disciple,  helped  of  God,  devoted  less  than  two 
hours  to  this  service  of  redeeming  a family  for  time 
and  for  eternity.  Go,  thou,  and  do  likewise!  The 
Master  is  waiting  for  you  in  many  a desolate  home. 
Go,  speak  in  His  name,  and  He  will  be  with  you,  and 
help  you. 

WHAT  A PICTURE  DID. 

The  heading  of  The  Reform,  an  illustrated  tract 
paper,  is  composed  of  three  pictures.  The  first  rep- 
resents a drunkard  staggering  home  to  his  family. 
In  his  hand  he  holds  a bottle ; his  wife,  with  her  babe 
in  her  arms  and  her  little  boy  clinging  to  her  dress,  is 
shrinking  from  him.  Terror  and  fear  are  depicted 
upon  the  countenances  of  the  three. 

The  second  picture  represents  the  same  man,  stand- 
ing at  a table,  a woman  holding  out  a pen  to  him  with 
one  hand,  and  with  the  other  a paper  upon  which  are 
seen  the  words,  “ Temperance  Pledge.” 

In  the  third  picture  we  see  the  same  man,  well 
clothed,  walking  erect,  with  a cane  in  his  hand,  and 
leading  a little  boy  up  a flight  of  steps  to  a nice  house, 
in  the  door  of  which  stands  the  wife,  with  beaming 
smile  upon  her  face,  and  hardly  able  to  hold  the  baby, 
who  is  overjoyed  at  seeing  the  father. 

A bundle  of  these  papers  was  sent  to  one  of  the 
ladies  in  Cincinnati,  who  distributed  them  in  the 
market,  at  the  hospital  and  jail. 

Two  months  afterwards  she  was  stopped  on  the 
street  by  a German  woman,  who  told  her  the  follow- 
ing story: 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


249 


“You  shoost  stop  von  minute  vile  I tells  you  vot  is 
in  mine  heart.  You  come  von  day  to  mine  stall  in  de 
market,  you  give  mine  old  man  a paper,  and  you  gives 
me  a paper. 

“ Ven  I goes  to  mine  home,  mine  children  dey  cries 
for  dere  dinner.  I says,  ‘You  shoost  keep  still,  and  I 
vill  give  you  von  paper  a vomans  give  me  in  de 
market.’  So  dey  spreads  a paper  on  de  floor,  und 
dey  kicks  up  dere  heels,  und  dey  looks  hard  at  de 
pictures.  Vile  I gets  mine  dinner,  dey  visper.  Mine 
leetle  boy  he  says : ‘ Dat  is  pap  mid  the  bottle ! dat 
leetle  boy  vot  hides  hind  his  mudder’s  dress  is  me,  ven 
I’m  skeered  at  pappy,  und  de  baby  is  Helwig,  cause 
dat  is  shoost  de  vay  he  hides  hind  mudder’s  ear  when 
pappy’s  drunk.’  Den  dey  say,  ‘ Mudder,  vat  dat 
voman  do  mit  de  table  ? ’ I says,  ‘ De  temperance 
voman  vants  de  man  to  sign  de  pledge,  and  says  he 
drinks  no  more  beer  or  whiskey,  den  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren be  no  more  feared  of  him.’ 

“ Dey  looks  hard  at  de  picter,  den  dey  vispers  and 
dey  say,  ‘ Mudder,  will  pappy  look  nice  like  de  udder 
picter,  would  he  sign  de  pledge  ? ’ 

“And  I says,  ‘Yes,  childrens,  your  fadder  would 
look  shoost  like  dat  if  he  goes  no  more  to  saloons.’ 

“ Mine  old  man  den  he  comes  in  to  his  dinner.  He 
loves  his  children  ven  he  is  sober.  My  children  dey 
see  he  no  drunk,  so  dey  runs  to  him  mid  de  papers, 
and  dey  say,  ‘ Pappy,  that  is  you  mid  de  bottle,  and 
dot  voman  is  mudder,  and  de  baby  wot  hides  hind  his 
mudder’s  ear  is  Helwig.  Pappy,  vont  you  go  to  de 
temperance  voman’s  mit  de  table,  and  sign  de  pledge. 


250 


CRUSADE  AT  CINCINNATI. 


and  den  you  will  look  shoost  like  dat  nice  man  mit  de 
cane,  and  Helwig  he  will  look  shoost  like  dis  baby  vot 
tries  to  jump  out  of  his  mudder’s  arms  and  is  so  glad 
to  see  his  pappy  ? ’ Mine  old  man  he  gets  so  mad, 
and  he  says,  ‘ I eat  no  dinner,  I hates  de  temperance,  I 
hates  de  temperance,’  and  my  children  dey  cry,  dey  be 
so  scared.  My  old  man  he  slams  de  door,  and  he 
goes  off.  He  comes  home  to  supper  and  he  say  de 
first  ting,  ‘ I hates  de  temperance,  I hates  de  temper- 
ance,’ and  he  no  speak  to  de  children,  and  dey  be  so 
skeered. 

“After  supper  mine  old  man  he  makes  de  children 
go  to  ped,  and  he  smokes,  and  he  scolds,  and  he  gets 
so  mad  he  no  goes  to  de  saloon,  like  he  always  does 
all  his  life  mid  me. 

“ Ven  it  vas  bed-time  mine  old  man  he  lay  down  his 
pipe  and  he  says:  ‘Old  woman,  I’s  no  been  good  to 
you ; I gets  drunk  no  more ; I goes  no  more  to 
saloons ; mine  heart  is  sick  mit  what  mine  children  say. 
I loves  mine  wife,  I loves  mine  children  ven  I gets  no 
drunk.’  Den  I put  mine  apron  to  mine  eyes,  and  I 
cries,  and  mine  old  man  he  cries.  Den  we  stand  by 
de  childer’s  bed,  and  mine  old  man  he  kiss  me,  and  he 
kiss  de  children,  and  he  says,  ‘ Mine  heart  is  so  sick 
all  de  day  mit  vat  de  children  says  to  me.’ 

“ I tells  you  I loves  dat  leetle  paper,  mine  heart  is  so 
glad  dat  you  gives  it  to  me.  I folds  it  up  shust  so 
nice  and  I puts  it  mit  a handkerchief  round,  and  I puts 
it  in  mine  under-drawer  in  mine  bureau  mit  mine  chil- 
dren’s tings  what  died.” 


CRUSADE  AT  CLYDE. 


251 


CLYDE,  OHIO. 

The  women  worked  and  prayed  faithfully  for  five 
weeks.  During  the  first  two  weeks,  two  saloons 
closed,  one  dealer  disposing  of  his  liquors,  the  other 
giving  them  up  to  the  ladies  to  be  emptied  into  the 
street.  They  were  poured  into  the  gutter  amid  great 
rejoicings,  and  the  singing  of  the  doxology. 

While  one  of  the  women  was  pleading  with  Carroll, 
a saloon-keeper,  she  referred  to  the  fact  that  her  boys 
were  becoming  drunkards.  “ Oh  !”  said  he,  “ I do  not 
think  I ever  sold  your  boys  any.”  “ But,”  said  the 
noble  woman,  with  tearful  emphasis,  “you  sell  to  some- 
body’s boys.” 

One  Saturday  evening,  as  the  ladies  approached  one 
of  the  most  prominent  saloons,  the  proprietor  came 
out  and  informed  them  that  they  could  not  hold  ser- 
vices in  front  of  his  house ; that  he  would  spill  his  last 
drop  of  blood  before  they  should  do  it.  He  had  his 
back  yard  and  saloon  full  of  help.  The  ladies  im- 
mediately commenced  their  exercises,  and  he  called 
his  rabble  out  to  hoot;  a pail  of  cold  water  was  splashed 
into  the  face  of  the  one  who  was  praying.  She  never 
broke  a sentence,  but  said : “ O Lord,  we  are  now 
baptized  for  the  work.”  The  effect  was  good,  it  was 
a most  complete  victory.  All  became  quiet,  and  the 
saloon-keeper  accompanied  them  to  the  church,  and  oh, 
such  earnest  prayers  as  were  offered  in  the  church  for 
that  man.  Mass-meetings  were  held  every  Wednes- 
day evening,  and  the  pressure  of  public  sentiment 
became  so  great,  that  the  saloon-keepers  closed  for  an 
indefinite  time. 


252  CRUSADE  AT  CEDARVILLE. 

CEDARVILLE,  OHIO. 

In  1873,  the  ever  memorable  time,  in  the  history  of 
the  women  Crusaders  of  Ohio,  we  in  Cedarville  were 
aroused  to  work  by  the  call  from  our  Father  in  heaven. 

It  seemed  as  though  a few  of  the  sisters  here,  were 
called  out  for  the  work,  even  before  the  sisters  in  Hills- 
boro’. We  had  our  first  meeting  announced,  and  a 
speaker  engaged,  and  had  of  ourselves  determined  to 
organize  for  work.  But  by  a providence  of  God  we 
were  kept  back  to  let  the  sisters  at  Hillsboro’  and 
Washington  Court-House  commence  first. 

January  2d,  our  first  meeting  was  held,  and  we  were 
fully  equipped  for  visiting  the  saloons.  We  did  not 
need  to  wait,  and  hold  our  prayer-meetings  in  the 
church;  the  Lord  had  prepared  us  before,  in  our 
homes,  so  we  went  at  once  to  the  saloons  to  hold 
prayer-meetings;  we  felt  the  Lord  had  made  such  a 
distinct  call  for  us  to  go,  that  we  had  no  fears : we 
knew  that  He  would  lead  us.  Our  mouths  were  filled 
with  song  and  prayer;  our  sympathies  were  awakened 
to  such  a decree,  it  seemed  nothinor  on  earth  could 
have  stopped  us  from  going  on  in  the  path  the  Lord 
had  laid  out  for  us.  Thanks  be  to  the  Lord  for  the 
faith  He  gave  us. 

We  felt  that  we  must  do  something;  that  if  we  did 
not,  our  homes  would  be  made  desolate,  our  hearts 
would  be  broken,  our  sons  would  all  perish.  The 
words,  “What  wilt  thou  have  me  do?”  were  spoken  so 
plainly  that  we  felt  we  must  do  something  to  help  the 
wretched  souls  out  of  their  bondage.  IMy  husband 
being  a zealous  temperance  man,  was  easily  aroused 


CRUSADE  AT  CEDARVILLE. 


253 


to  action;  he  sent  for  a lecturer,  Dr.  Watt:  he  came, 
and  spoke  earnestly  for  the  cause ; the  next  day  we 
made  our  first  visit  to  the  saloons,  through  the  snow 
and  bitter  cold,  but  we  were  not  cold  ; we  went  early 
and  late  until  all  our  saloons  were  closed. 

We  had  three  saloons  and  two  drug  stores — one  of 
the  drug  stores  was  as  bad  as  any  of  the  saloons,  and 
we  thought  worse,  for  there  our  best  young  men  went 
to  drink,  when  they  would  not  have  been  seen  at  a 
saloon.  One  of  the  druggists  signed  the  pledge,  but 
one  would  not,  notwithstanding  we  prayed  and  plead 
earnestly  with  him.  He  had  a suit  pending  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  at  that  time,  and  he  was  very  much  em- 
bittered against  us.  A lady  of  our  town  had  sued 
him  for  selling  liquor  to  her  husband,  and  had  gained 
it  in  the  county  court ; but  he  had  appealed  it  to  a 
higher  court,  so  we  did  not  expect  him  to  give  up 
very  soon,  but  we  made  him  a special  object  of  prayer; 
he  was  not  an  ignorant  foreigner,  but  a native  of  this 
place,  and  had  been  taught  better  things,  and  knew 
the  power  of  prayer,  and  knew  too,  that  we  were 
praying  earnestly  for  him,  that  his  wicked  business 
might  be  stopped.  We  think  he  wanted  to  be  clear  of 
the  whiskey,  but  he  didn’t  want  to  lose  a dollar,  so  he 
sold  it  all  in  a lump ; and  for  a short  time  we  were 
clear  of  the  traffic. 

But  as  the  whiskey  men  found  their  cause  was  in 
great  danger,  they  put  forward  a man  and  sustained 
him.  We  made  a powerful  effort  to  stop  him,  got  out 
a petition  and  tried  to  get, all  we  could  to  sign  it,  but 
some  we  had  depended  on  as  being  firm  friends  of 


254 


CRUSADE  AT  CEDARVILLE. 


temperance,  failed  us,  said  there  was  no  use  trying : 
if  the  people  couldn’t  get  whiskey  here  they  would  go 
to  “ Xenia”  to  get  It. 

Notwithstanding  all  our  efforts,  the  saloon  was 
opened,  and  in  a short  time  another  one.  Then  we 
were  in  great  trouble,  but  concluded  we  had  better  hold 
prayer-meetings  again  at  the  saloons.  Some  thought 
the  time  was  past  for  that,  but  a few  of  us  felt  we  vitist 
pray  for  their  removal,  and  it  was  not  long  until  one  of 
these  men  took  fits : he  was  taken  sick  about  four  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  died  at  two  o’clock  that  night. 
In  our  meeting  that  day  we  had  prayed  especially  for 
him.  As  we  watched  these  saloons  every  evening  from 
dusk  of  evening  until  about  ten  o’clock,  (that  being  the 
time  when  most  of  the  drinking  was  done,)  and  prayed 
they  might  be  removed,  it  did  seem  as  though  the 
Lord  answered  our  prayer  in  a marvellous  manner. 
Nor  was  this  all:  just  about  that  time  the  other  saloonist 
had  some  sort  of  a strange  spell  which  was  pronounced 
fits ; he  took  them  just  when  the  women  were  praying 
for  him,  he  got  frightened,  closed  his  saloon,  and  went 
into  the  grocery  business.  He  thought  that  would  save 
him,  but  he  still  has  fits.  In  answer  to  our  prayers  both 
saloons  were  closed. 

We  still  have  our  prayer-meetings;  they  have  been 
kept  up  regularly  ever  since  the  Crusade.  e still 
have  one  saloon,  but  there  Is  not  one-third  the  quan- 
tity of  whiskey  sold  now.  Many  have  reformed;  it  has 
become  unpopular  to  be  seen  going  to  a saloon,  and 
none  will  go,  except  those  who  care  nothing  for  their 
reputation. 


CRUSADE  AT  MARIETTA. 


255 


We  see  great  results  from  our  temperance  work 
here,  but  still  we  expect  to  work  on,  while  there  is  a 
saloon  in  operation. 

We  have  a temperance  fund  ; some  have  subscribed 
as  much  as  ^500 ; I think  over  twenty  have  subscribed 
that  much.  There  is  about  ^38,000  in  the  bank  ; ten 
per  cent,  of  that  money  can  be  drawn  to  defray  any 
expense  the  association  may  have  in  law  suits,  etc. ; 
the  men  have  a business  committee  to  look  up  cases 
for  prosecution,  and  to  watch  the  saloons  to  see  whether 
they  sell  according  to  law.  Thus  it  will  be  noticed  we 
have  public  sentiment  in  our  favor. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  R.  O.  Stewart  for  the  facts  in 
this  account. 


MARIETTA,  OHIO. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  J.  M.  Eells  for  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  work  in  Marietta : It  has  been  my 
privilege  to  be  engaged  in  the  cause  of  temperance 
for  many  years,  but  never  have  I seen  the  power  of 
God  so  manifested  as  in  the  Crusade,  and  the  recent 
reform  movement.  Previous  to  the  work  here  in 
Marietta,  many  groaned  under  the  heavy  burden  of 
the  sin  of  intemperance.  Feeling  that  something  must 
be  done,  and  that  prayer  would  avail,  yet  we  did  not 
lay  hold  on  the  means  of  grace  as  we  should  have  done 
until  stimulated  by  the  persevering  efforts  of  our  sis- 
ters in  Washington  and  Hillsboro’. 

O 

Thanks  be  to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  the  great 
good  that  has  been  accomplished  by  our  feeble  efforts. 
When  our  work  commenced.  If  I am  rightly  informed. 


256  CRUSADE  AT  MARIETTA. 

the  number  of  saloons  amounted  to  about  sixty  in  this 
place  and  vicinity — kept  mostly  by  Germans.  Our 
sympathy  embraced  all  classes  of  drinking  men ; but 
our  efforts  were  more  closely  drawn  to  the  saloonist 
for  a time. 

With  prayers,  tears,  songs,  and  entreaties  we  went 
from  the  house  of  God  to  the  doors  of  the  saloons,  and 
we  trust  to  the  hearts  of  the  saloonists,  though  few 
surrendered,  until  affliction  laid  them  low:  six  have 
gone  to  their  final  account. 

There  is  one  remarkable  incident  connected  with 
our  work.  A young  man,  of  upright  character  in  so- 
ciety, was  engaged  in  dealing  out  to  others  that  which 
he  would  not  drink  himself,  though  from  childhood  he 
had  been  employed  in  a saloon.  During  all  this  time 
he  was  never  known  to  touch  a drop  of  intoxicating 
drinks.  The  ladies  labored  with  him,  endeavoring  to 
show  the  inconsistency  of  such  a course,  pressing  the 
question:  “Are  you  doing  by  others  as  you  would  that 
others  should  do  to  you?” 

The  answer  would  invariably  be:  “This  is  my  way 
of  getting  a living.  People  will  drink.  I might  as  well 
sell  it  as  any  one  else.  I know  what  I am  about.  I 
read  my  Bible — attend  church  with  a hope  of  heaven.” 

We  left,  saying  we  feared  he  was  deceiving  himself. 
He  kept  on  and  on  until,  in  the  stillness  of  night, 
his  house  was  wrapt  in  flames.  We  thought  he  had 
lost  his  all,  but  a few  days  later  we  were  invited  to  call 
at  his  new  establishment,  fitted  up  in  fascinating  style, 
to  allure  the  weak.  At  this  crisis  he  was  attacked  with 
a disease  which,  in  a few  days,  numbered  him  with  the 


CRUSADE  AT  MARIETTA.  257 

dead.  In  his  ravings  he  was  heard  to  cry,  “/  cannot, 
I will  not  die” 

Our  encouragement  in  laboring  with  drinking  men 
has  been  great,  especially  when  we  hear  them  in  our 
gospel-meetings  testifying  to  the  goodness  of  God  in 
reclaiming  them  from  a life  of  sin,  and  taking  away  their 
appetite  for  strong  drink. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  ladies,  and  the  recent 
Reform  movement,  many,  very  many  families  have  been 
made  happy  and  provided  for  well,  by  the  reclaiming 
of  a father,  husband,  son,  and  brother.  Yes!  we  have 
seen  the  tattered,  reeling,  profane  man  clothed  and  in 
his  right  mind;  also  the  weeping  mother  and  half- 
starved  children  with  their  tears  wiped  away,  and  fed 
and  clothed;  and  the  rough,  defiant  saloonist  bathed 
in  tears. 

Something  like  two  thousand  signed  the  pledge 
during  these  movements. 

Words  of  cheer  often  come  to  us  in  these  late  days, 
from  one  and  another  who  were  blest  durino-  the  Cru- 

O 

^ sade.  One  man  said  he  wished  the  ladies  had  thought 
of  the  poor  drunkard  long  before  ; it  would  have  saved 
him  ten  years  of  wretchedness.  He  never  met  with 
anything  that  went  to  his  heart  as  their  appeals  did. 

We  are  encouraged  more,  by  seeing  in  our  walks, 
places  where  a bar  had  been  kept  changed  to  a neatly- 
furnished  sitting-room.  We  like  to  enter  and  converse 
with  the  occupants.  They  always  invite  us  to  call 
again,  saying,  “ Doesn’t  this  room  look  better  than  when 
the  bar  was  in  it?” 

Our  work  is  still  going  on,  under  the  influence  of  the 

17 


258 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


Good  Templars,  gospel-meetings,  and  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union.  The  work  has  gone  on 
here  very  much  as  in  other  places. 

We  still  hold  it  to  be  God’s  work,  and  pray  that  He 
will  bless  all  efforts  put  forth  by  His  people  for  the 
overthrow  of  the  monster  vice.  Intemperance. 

XENIA,  OHIO. 

This  city,  beautiful  for  situation,  is  the  pride  of 
southern  Ohio,  and  contains  a population  of  about  ten 
thousand  inhabitants.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
Crusade  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  places 
where  liquor  was  sold — one  saloon  to  eighty-three 
inhabitants. 

Dr.  Dio  Lewis  assisted  in  organizing  the  movement 
in  this  city.  Temperance  soon  became  the  all-absorb- 
ing topic  of  conversation  among  all  classes.  The 
women  organized  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Colonel 
Lowe.  The  women  of  wealth  and  culture  came  at 
once  to  the  front,  to  take  their  share  of  the  burden  of 
the  work.  Denominational  lines  were  broken  down, 
and  women  accustomed  to  psalm-singing  joined  heartily 
in  gospel  songs. 

One  of  the  worst  saloons  in  the  place  was  the 
“Shades  of  Death,”  kept  by  a young  man  named 
Phillips,  who  kept  a liquor  shop  and  gambling  den 
of  the  worst  character,  although  he  had  been  well 
brought  up. 

A special  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette 
gives  us  the  following  graphic  account  of  the  work  at 
this  saloon : 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


259 


“Xenia,  Ohio,  February  13th. 

“At  the  close  of  my  letter  yesterday  the  women 
held  the  ‘ Shades  of  Death  ’ in  close  investment.  It 
was  agreed  by  the  ladies  to  adjourn  for  dinner,  and  so 
I announced ; but  there  was  no  adjournment.  The 
determined  women  could  not  find  it  in  their  hearts  to 
leave,  and  they  did  not  until  near  five  o’clock.  Such 
as  found  it  necessary  to  go  home  to  their  families  did 
so,  but  were  early  back  to  the  place  of  prayer. 

“This  saloon  is  a brick  house  on  the  corner  of 
Whiteman  and  Second  streets,  having  one  door  on 
each.  Under  the  back  room  there  is  a deep  cellar, 
where  much  of  the  gambling  is  carried  on,  quite  out 
of  siofht.  At  first  the  women  held  their  station  on  the 
two  sidewalks,  but  at  length  discovered  a third  door 
in  the  rear,  through  which  some  of  those  caught  in 
the  saloon  had  already  made  good  their  escape.  This 
outlet  was  quickly  occupied  by  the  women,  and  so  the 
place  was  surrounded.  The  keeper,  Phillips,  was  not 
prepared  for  this,  and  came  to  the  door  and  remon- 
strated vigorously ; but  the  response  came  in  spiritual 
song : 

“ ‘A  charge  to  keep  I have.’ 

“In  vain  Stephen  assured  the  women  that  their 
praying  would  do  no  good.  They  only  sang  the  more 
fervently, 

“ ‘ To  patient  faith  the  prize  is  sure.’ 

“A  fiddle  was  played  inside,  and  some  dancing 
attempted,  but  this  did  not  last  long.  Through  a 


26o 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


broken  window  the  services  outside  were  distinctly 
heard  inside.  The  proprietor  sent  for  a glazier,  and 
had  the  missing  glass  replaced.  The  faces  of  bloated 
white  and  colored  men  appeared  at  the  windows  side 
by  side. 

“The  representatives  of  six  wholesale  liquor-houses 
were  here  yesterday,  offering  the  saloonists  all  the 
liquors  they  can  make  use  of,  while  the  campaign  lasts, 
free  of  charge. 

“One  of  these  gentlemen  was  in  the  ‘Shades  of 
Death’  when  it  was  invested.  About  two  o’clock  he 
came  to  the  front  door  to  tell  the  women  that  they 
were  helpless,  and  could  do  nothing;  that  they  did  not 
know  where  their  own  sons  and  husbands  misfht  be  at 
that  moment.  His  own  wife  had  no  idea  he  went  to 
such  places.  An  estimable  woman  of  God  began  to 
pray  for  him,  and,  as  he  retreated  through  the  door, 
they  followed  him  in.  Phillips  came  out  about  three 
o’clock,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  to  draw  the  crowd 
away.  A part  followed  him  across  the  street,  but  the 
siege  was  not  lifted.’’ 


“Xenia,  Ohio,  Februarj^  19th,  1874. 

“Just  as  I sealed  my  letter,  I heard  a great  shout  in 
the  street,  and  soon  after  all  the  church-bells  in  the 
city  commenced  ringing.  At  the  same  time  there 
arose  a prolonged  cheering  from  the  Grangers’  Con- 
vention, just  across  the  street  from  the  hotel,  and  it 
was  evident  that  something  unusual  had  happened. 
Going  on  the  street  for  the  news,  I saw  crowds  of 
people  thronging  towards  Whiteman  street,  and  heard 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


261 


on  every  hand  in  joyful  accent,  ‘The  “Shades  of 
Death”  has  unconditionally  surrendered.’  The  good 
news,  as  the  temperance  people  considered  it,  proved 
true,  and  I found  Whiteman  street  thronged  with  peo- 
ple. At  a little  before  three  o’clock,  as  it  appeared 
from  the  general  account,  Mr.  Steve  Phillips,  proprietor 
of  the  ‘Shades  of  Death,’  invited  the  ladies  to  enter, 
and  announced  that  he  gave  up  everything  to  them, 
and  would  never  sell  anything  intoxicating  in  Xenia 
again.  Then  the  ladies,  joined  by  the  spectators,  sang, 

‘ ‘ ‘ Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,  ’ 

while  the  liquors  were  rolled  into  the  street.  A half- 
barrel of  blackberry  brandy,  the  same  of  highwines,  a 
few  kegs  of  beer,  and  some  bottles  of  ale  and  whiskey, 
were  soon  emptied  into  the  street,  amid  the  shouts  of 
an  enthusiastic  multitude.  The  leading  lady  then 
announced  that  if  Mr.  Phillips  went  into  any  other 
business  in  Xenia,  they  should  feel  it  a duty  to  sup- 
port him.  A despatch  was  sent  to  the  Grangers, 
eliciting  three  cheers,  and  all  the  bells  were  set  ringing 
in  honor  of  the  first  great  victory.  When  I arrived, 
the  liquor  had  mostly  collected  in  one  depression  in 
the  street,  and  such  a stench  went  up — ‘a  rank  offence, 
that  smelt  to  heaven’ — as  made  me  think  it  a very 
fortunate  thing  for  somebody’s  insides  that  the  liquor 
had  been  poured  out.  Of  the  women  around,  some 
were  crying,  some  laughing,  a few  alternately  singing 
and  returning  thanks.  One  elderly  lady  in  the  edge 
of  the  crowd  was  almost  in  hysterics,  but  still  shouting 
in  a hoarse  whisper  such  as  one  often  hears  at  camp- 


262 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


meeting:  ‘Bless  the  Lord!  O-o-o,  bless  the  Lord!’ 
She  had  the  appearance  of  a lady  in  good  circum- 
stances, and  a citizen  informed  me  that  she  is  ordi- 
narily one  of  the  quietest,  most  placid  of  women. 
One  of  her  sons  died  of  intemperance,  and  another  is 
much  addicted  to  liquor.  On  every  side  nothing  was 
witnessed  but  smiles,  laughter,  tears,  prayers,  hand- 
shakings, and  congratulations.” 

Phillips  opened  a meat-market  at  his  old  stand,  and 
was  most  liberally  patronized. 

The  good  work  went  on.  At  the  close  of  the  second 
week,  twenty-five  out  of  the  forty-seven  saloons  were 
closed,  some  permanently,  others  during  the  war. 
The  street  prayer-meetings  were  kept  up  without 
intermission  for  over  a month,  when  the  ladies  decided 
to  try  the  picket  work,  which  proved  quite  effectual. 

But  at  the  municipal  election,  the  whiskey  party  was 
triumphant;  not  because  there  was  a lack  of  temper- 
ance sentiment,  but  for  lack  of  unity,  and  earnest 
effort  on  the  part  of  moral  and  temperance  men. 

The  liquor  element  became  defiant  and  insulting. 
While  Mrs.  Monroe’s  band  was  at  Hollencamp’s  brew- 
ery, a man  came  out  with  a mug  of  beer  in  his  hands, 
and  stopping  a woman  in  the  midst  of  her  prayer, 
offered  her  a drink ; holding  out  the  foaming  beer,  he 
told  her  it  was  Jesus. 

One  day,  while  the  ladies  were  holding  services, 
Bloom,  Altschul,  and  other  liquor-dealers,  with  their  de- 
graded customers,  surrounded  them,  and  the  interrup- 
tions became  so  boisterous  and  threatening,  that  Mayor 


CRUSADE  AT  WAYNESVILLE.  ‘ 263 

Keever  and  Marshal  Riley  interfered  for  the  protection 
of  the  ladies. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  discouragements,  the 
ladies  continued  their  work,  and  will  continue  till  a com- 
plete victory  is  won. 

WAYNESVILLE,  OHIO. 

“Waynesville  is  a quiet  village  in  Warren  county,  of 
strong  Quaker  proclivities.  It  is  situated  on  a gentle 
slope  which  descends  to  the  little  Miami  river.  Across 
the  stream  is  the  little  village  of  Corwin,  named  after 
the  illustrious  governor  and  statesman  of  Ohio.  To- 
gether these  two  towns  boast  that  they  have  a popu- 
lation of  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred.  The  groups  of 
white  houses  form  a very  quiet,  pretty  picture.” 

The  women  of  this  quiet  little  village  commenced 
public  work  January  17th,  and  maintained  one  of  the 
most  protracted  and  determined  campaigns  of  the 
Crusade.  There  were  three  saloons  in  the  two  towns : 
two  in  Waynesville,  and  one  in  Corwin. 

The  first  real  work  of  the  Crusade  was  the  circula- 
tion of  a petition,  which  was  largely  signed,  and  sent 
to  the  town  council,  asking  them  to  prohibit  the  sale 
of  ale  and  beer.  The  desired  ordinance  was  passed. 
In  the  meantime  the  ladies  held  prayer-meetings,  and 
prepared  for  street  work,  If  that  should  be  necessary. 
A report  having  obtained  that  the  women  intended  to 
commence  crusading  on  Saturday,  Timothy  Liddy 
printed  and  circulated  the  following  notice,  which  I 
give  verbatim  et  literatim. 

“ Notice. — As  it  has  come  to  my  hearing  that  there 


264 


CRUSADE  AT  WAYNESVILLE. 


is  a rumor  in  circulation  that  some  of  the  ladies  in  and 

about  Waynesville,  O.,  are  about  to  visit  my  grocery 

on  Saturday,  the  1 7th  inst.,  for  the  purpose  of  holding 

a prayer-meeting,  I advise  all  the  ladies  concerned  in 

the  movement  to  keep  clear  of  my  grocery,  and  keep 

within  the  bounds  of  the  law,  as  my  grocery  is  not  a 

place  of  worship.  „ t 

^ “ ilMOTHY  LiDDY. 

“Waynesville,  O.,  Jan.  i6th,  1874.” 

The  women  accepted  it  as  a challenge,  and  marched 
at  once  to  Mr.  kiddy’s  saloon  for  a prayer-meeting. 
Mr.  kiddy  was  very  obstinate,  and  his  wife  maintained 
a threatening  attitude. 

“ I’ll  scald  yez  ! I’ll  scald  yez  ! ” she  cried.  But  the 
women  had  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  were  not  deterred 
by  her  threats.  The  other  saloon  in  Waynesville  was 
kept  by  William  F.  Raper;  the  saloons  were  on 
diagonally  opposite  corners,  which  was  a great  con- 
venience to  the  ladies,  as  with  their  large  band  they 
could  keep  up  a continual  prayer-meeting  in  both 
saloons.  Mr.  kiddy  declared  that  “ These- wimmen 
are  worse  than  haythens.”  Both  saloon-keepers  closed 
their  doors  against  the  women,  and  on  the  7th  of  Feb- 
ruary, with  the  ground  covered  four  inches  deep  with 
snow  and  the  snow  still  falling,  they  sang  and  prayed 
again  and  again  in  front  of  Raper’s  saloon,  and  some 
of  them  afterwards  declared  that  it  was  a most  delight- 
ful meeting. 

As  the  weather  continued  inclement,  a few  of  the 
ladies  took  shelter  in  covered  carriages  drawn  up  in 
front  of  the  saloons  for  their  use,  while  on  picket  duty ; 


CRUSADE  AT  WAYNESVILLE, 


265 


a vacant  room  on  the  third  corner  was  fitted  up  for  the 
use  of  the  band,  so  the  siege  went  on  with  a degree 
of  comfort.  Books  were  kept  in  which  the  name  of 
every  man  entering  either  saloon  was  registered ; the 
result  was  a large  falling  off  in  the  patronage. 

The  house  occupied  by  Liddy  was  finally  bought  over 
his  head,  and  he  was  forced  to  close,  and  Raper  soon 
afterwards  surrendered.  He  wrote  Miss  Esther  Pugh 
the  following  letter : 

“ Miss  Pugh  : — I have  thought  the  matter  over,  and 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  to  let  the  ladies  empty 

the  ale.  “William  F.  Raper.” 

There  was  great  rejoicing,  and  immense  enthusiasm, 
and  in  response  to  the  letter,  the  ladies  marched 
through  a pouring  rain  to  the  saloon.  Mr.  Raper  very 
graciously  assisted  the  women  in  rolling  out  his  liquors 
on  the  -pavement.  But  the  enthusiasm  of  the  women 
was  so  great,  that  they  didn’t  wait  for  assistance,  but 
seized  the  kegs  of  ale  in  the  cellar,  and  by  almost 
superhuman  effort  carried  them  up  the  steep  cellar- 
stairs  into  the  street;  and  their  contents  were  soon 
poured  upon  the  ground. 

The  whole  force  was  now  concentrated  upon  Tom 
Franey’s  saloon,  at  Corwin.  Tom  was  noted  for  his 
politeness.  The  ladies  who  came  to  pray  in  his  saloon 
were  treated  with  great  consideration,  and  when  the 
prayer-meeting  was  over,  and  he  had  shaken  hands  all 
around,  an  omnibus  was  at  the  door  to  carry  the  ladies 
back  to  Waynesville.  The  ladies  were  not  turned 


266 


CRUSADE  AT  WAYNESVILLE. 


from  their  purpose  by  his  blandishments,  but  continued 
their  work  till  it  began  -seriously  to  interfere  with  his 
business.  His  saloon  was  the  only  one  now  in  the 
centre  of  a large  district,  dotted  over  with  villages. 
But  the  country  people  ceased  to  come  with  their 
jugs  and  bottles,  and  the  polite  Franey  became  un- 
gracious, and  went  so  far  as  to  threaten  to  sue  the 
Society  for  damaging  his  business.  After  securing 
legal  advice,  he  changed  his  mind,  and  closed  his  doors 
against  the  Crusaders ; but  they  sang  and  prayed 
beside  his  door  until  he,  too,  surrendered  uncondi- 
tionally. 

The  officers  of  the  League  which  did  such  valiant 

o 

work  were  : President,  Esther  Pugh  ; Vice-Presidents, 
Mrs.  Devitt,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Randall,  hlrs.  Levi  Cook, 
Mrs.  Kate  Allen ; Secretary,  Miss  Annie  Pdsher. 
Among  the  workers  were,  Miss  Phebe  Bailey,  Mrs.  John 
Fetter,  Miss  Addie  Keys,  hliss  Eliza  Bunting,  Mrs. 
Israel  Wright,  Rachel  Hopkins,  Mrs.  Dr.  Way,  Eliza 
Nedry,  Jane  Jones,  and  others.  It  was  the  habit  of 
these  ladies,  when  visiting  a saloon,  to  fall  at  once  upon 
their  knees,  and  remain  kneelinof  most  of  the  time 
during  their  stay.  The  company  was  made  up  of  all 
denominations,  members  of  the  Society  of  Eriends  pre- 
dominating, Orthodox  and  Hicksites  commingling,  and 
all  sang  together  gospel  songs.  Their  meetings  were 
characterized  by  deep  religious  feeling,  and  were  in- 
tensely solemn.  The  siege,  that  resulted  in  closing  all 
the  saloons  in  these  two  villages,  was  protracted  forty- 
nine  days. 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD. 


267 


NEW  CONCORD,  OHIO. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  E.  J.  Oxley  for  the  facts 
in  this  report. 

The  Christian  Women’s  Temperance  Union  of  New 
Concord,  Ohio,  was  organized  March  18th,  1874,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Prior  to 
this  time,  a few  of  the  Christian  women  of  the  village 
had  met  several  times  in  the  capacity  of  a temperance 
prayer-meeting. 

A temperance  mass-meeting  was  held  in  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  evening  of  the  27  th. 
Two  of  the  ministers  were  staunch  temperance  men  who 
had  nobly  battled  against  intemperance  for  many  years. 
These  men,  hand  in  hand,  and  shoulder  to  shoulder, 
did  much  to  assist  the  women,  who  pledged  them- 
selves to  labor  for  life  against  intemperance,  and 
adopted  as  their  watchword,  “ eternal  vigilance  and 
perseverance.” 

These  meetings  were  well  attended,  partly  because 
the  people  were  becoming  excited  on  the  temperance 
question,  and  partly  because  it  was  the  “Woman’s 
movement.” 

The  novelty  of  wommn  holding  public  meetings, 
perhaps,  drew  out  some  who  would  not  otherwise  have 
attended  a temperance  meeting. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  committees  were  appointed 
to  canvass  the  town  with  copies  of  the  pledge,  in  order 
to  obtain  all  the  signatures  that  could  be  secured,  and 
leave  all  without  an  excuse.  The  canvassers  met 
with  unexpected  success.  In  a short  time  our  pledge 


268 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD. 


book  contained  277  signatures  to  the  citizens’  pledge, 
and  60  to  the  “Band  of  Promise”  pledge. 

A “Band  of  Promise”  was  organized  May  5th,  1874. 
Its  pledge  prohibited  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  of 
any  kind  as  a beverage,  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any 
form,  and  also  stipulated  that  the  subscribers  would 
refrain  from  the  use  of  profane  language. 

Some  of  the  parents  who  were  quite  willing  to  have 
their  children  become  members  of  the  Band  of  Promise, 
objected  to  their  signing  the  pledge,  because  they  said 
they  could  not  keep  it,  but  it  was  not  long  before  the 
children  were  allowed  to  sign  it.  This  Band  proved  a 
great  benefit,  not  only  to  the  children  themselves,  who 
were  receiving  a course  of  thorough  temperance 
training,  but  also  to  their  parents,  many  of  whom 
could  not  have  been  induced  to  attend  any  of  the  other 
temperance  meetings,  but  were  eager  to  attend  the 
children’s  mass-meetings,  to  hear  their  own  dear  little 
boys  and  girls  sing  or  speak  their  particular  pieces ; 
proving  that  this  is  the  great  field  for  temperance 
workers ; the  field  where  the  seed  now  sown  will,  at 
some  not  far  distant  day,  yield  “ an  hundred-fold.” 

The  entertainments  by  the  Band  of  Promise  were  by 
far  the  most  interesting  temperance  meetings  held  in 
the  place  ; their  music  was  sweeter  and  more  attract- 
ive than  any  other,  and  their  performances  were  more 
highly  appreciated  than  the  most  eloquent  speakers  who 
could  be  brought  forward,  simply  because  the  people 
were  generally  interested  in  children.  They  are  the 
hope  of  both  church  and  state. 

Although  there  was  no  saloon  in  our  village,  there 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD. 


269 


was  one  just  a little  out  of  town,  in  one  of  the  best 
places  for  that  business  that  could  well  be  found — out- 
side of  the  corporation,  out  of  view  from  town,  and  ac- 
cessible by  four  different  ways.  This  was  kept  by 
Wm.  Wylie,  who  claimed  to  be  selling  according  to 
law,  and  could  not  be  gotten  rid  of  until  the  summer 
of  1875,  when  at  last  he  grew  tired  of  the  frequent 
visits  of  the  “ preachers  and  temperance  women,”  and 
closed  out. 

Prayer-meetings  and  temperance  visitors  had  made 
his  trade  dull,  so  he  concluded  to  give  up  the  business 
and  try  to  earn  an  honest  living  by  the  “sweat  of  his 
brow.” 

The  last  visit,  and  perhaps  the  one  productive  of 
most  good,  was  made  about  the  last  of  July,  1875,  when 
a procession  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  women,  accompanied 
by  five  men,  three  of  them  ministers — Revs.  M’Arthur, 
M’Clurkin,  and  Murch — marched  out  one  afternoon. 
On  arriving  there  they  found  the  house  closed,  as  if 
there  was  no  one  at  home  ; but  they  soon  had  evidence 
that  the  family  were  there,  and  proceeded  to  hold  a 
prayer-meeting  in  front  of  the  saloon.  After  a while 
Mr.  Wylie  came  out,  and  they  had  an  opportunity  of 
talking  with  both  him  and  his  partner.  He  threatened 
prosecution,  and  did  come  to  town  to  try  to  get  law. 
Soon  after  this  he  quit  selling  liquor,  and  has  since 
signed  the  pledge. 

The  only  street  or  outdoor  work  this  League  ever 
had  to  do  was  on  the  23d  of  May,  1874.  This  was 
Saturday,  the  day  of  an  “animal  and  circus  show.” 
It  was  also  a communion  season  with  the  people  of 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  congregation. 


270 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD, 


Early  In  the  morning  some  of  the  League  re- 
ceived information  that  a man  from  a neighboring  vil- 
lage had  brought  a wagon-load  of  liquors,  and  was 
prepared  to  sell  near  the  show  grounds.  He  had 
selected  a very  good  place  for  his  business,  a short  dis- 
tance out  of  the  corporation,  by  the  roadside,  and  was 
doubtlessly  anticipating  a fine  day  s work;  but  before 
he  had  time  to  make  many  sales  the  temperance  women 
were  on  the  grounds,  too,  to  watch,  and  to  see,  at  least, 
that  he  did  not  sell  to  any  of  their  friends,  or  any  others, 
if  they  could  prevent. 

This  little  band  of  eight  or  ten  women,  led  by  Mrs. 
Murch,  first  vice-president,  and  accompanied  by  perhaps 
half  a dozen  of  the  good  old  temperance  men,  as  a kind 
of  escort,  at  first  tried  to  persuade  Mr.  Davis  to  go 
away,  but  they  could  neither  induce  him  to  sign  the 
pledge,  sell  out  to  them,  nor  accept  any  proposition 
which  they  could  make.  He  seemed  invincible,  deter- 
mined to  sell,  “according  to  law,”  as  he  said.  Soon  a 
large  crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children  had  gathered 
to  see  what  this  little  handful  of  temperance  women 
would  or  could  do  with  a man  who  seemed  to  defy 
both  them  and  their  lazul' 

Other  women  continued  to  come,  until  by  afternoon 
the  few  who  had  gone  out  in  the  morning  were  pretty 
strongly  reinforced,  and  as  the.  day  wore  on  Mr.  Davis 
learned  that  temperance  women  and  those  restrained 
by  their  presence,  were  not  very  good  customers. 

But  not  until  late  in  the  afternoon  did  he  show  any 
signs  of  retreat.  The  law  protecting  persons  holding 
religious  services  being  found,  was  read  to  him  by  Mrs. 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD. 


271 


Murch ; he  being  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  that 
ordinance,  as  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  people  were 
holding  religious  services  in  their  church.  Soon  after 
the  law  was  read  to  him,  he  began  very  reluctantly  to 
pack  up  his  kegs,  boxes,  and  other  saloon  arrange- 
ments, and  turned  his  face  homeward,  followed  by  a 
large  and  promiscuous  crowd,  some  of  whom  followed 
him  entirely  out  of  town. 

The  shades  of  evening  fell  upon  a quiet  and  peace- 
ful village,  and  many  hearts  rejoiced  that  there  had 
not  been  one  intoxicated  man  in  town  that  day. 

This  day’s  labors  strengthened  the  temperance 
women,  and  brought  them  into  favor  witli  some  who 
had  before  thought  they  were  transcending  woman’s 
proper  sphere.  During  the  summer  of  1874  frequent 
public  mass-meetings  were  held,  at  which  the  question 
of  “License  or  No  license”  was  freely  discussed,  there 
being  one  article  in  the  new  Constitution  which  was  to 
be  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  people  of  Ohio  on  the 
1 8th  of  August.  Union  temperance  prayer-meetings 
were  held  almost  every  week  in  some  one  of  the 
four  churches,  through  this  summer,  fall  and  winter. 

These  meetings  were  called  union  meetings,  because 
the  different  pastors  had  been  invited  to  conduct  them, 
and  a oreneral  invitation  was  extended.  These  soon 

o 

became  very  interesting,  large  numbers  attending. 
On  the  1 8th  of  August,  an  all-day  prayer-meeting  was 
held,  the  object  of  which  was  to  plead  that  God  would 
guide  the  voters  throughout  the  State,  to  cast  their 
ballots  in  favor  of  ''No  license!'  Their  prayers  were 
heard — the  decision  was.  No  License. 


272 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  CONCORD. 


A most  interesting  entertainment  by  the  Band  of 
Promise  was  given  October  26th,  in  College  Hall, 
about  sixty  girls  and  boys  taking  part.  In  this  meet- 
ing there  were  some  from  almost  every  family  in  town. 
This  entertainment  consisted  of  music,  temperance 
songs,  declamations  and  select  essays.  They  were 
highly  appreciated,  some  of  which  would  have  done 
credit  to  much  older  boys  and  girls.  The  children 
were  not  only  benefited,  but  highly  delighted,  so  much 
so  that  in  a few  weeks  there  were  many  anxious  “ lit- 
tle folks,”  inquiring  of  the  committee  of  arrangements, 
who  had  drilled  the  class,  when  there  would  be  another 
children’s  mass-meeting. 

This  was  the  first  of  these  “Temperance  Exhibi- 
tions,” but  not  the  last.  They  were  held  as  often  as 
once  in  three  months,  and  sometimes  oftener. 

In  January  and  February,  1875,  petitions  to  Congress 
and  the  Legislature,  asking  for  temperance  legislation, 
and  also  petitions  to  the . Centennial  Commission, 
asking  that  no  brewery  or  distillery  be  allowed  on  the 
Centennial  grounds,  and  that  the  gates  be  closed  on 
the  Sabbath,  were  circulated  with  unexpected  success. 

Again,  in  January,  1877,  petitions  to  Congress  and 
the  Legislature,  asking  for  prohibitory  laws,  were  again 
circulated  with  still  better  success,  this  time  securing, 
in  the  village  and  country  neighborhoods  around,  868 
signatures  to  one  petition,  and  800  to  the  other.  The 
winter  before,  only  about  300  names  were  obtained. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  still  hold  weekly  prayer-meetings, 
but  with  much  depleted  numbers.  Instead  of  forty 
and  more  members,  as  at  first,  there  are  but  ten  or 


CRUSADE  AT  RAVENNA  AND  MARION. 


273 


twelve  of  the  Crusade  members,  and  a few  others. 
Many  do  not  think  it  is  necessary  to  keep  up  a temper- 
ance organization  when  there  is  no  public  work  to  do. 

RAVENNA,  OHIO. 

An  organization  was  formed  in  Ravenna,  March 
1 2th,  1874.  It  was  called  the  Woman’s  Temperance 
League,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Woodbridge,  President,  Mrs.  R. 
B.  Witter,  Secretary.  The  features  of  the  work  were 
similar  to  those  throughout  the  State.  Daily  prayer- 
meetings  were  held,  from  which  bands  of  women  went 
forth  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  to  visit  saloons,  a portion 
of  the  League  remaining  in  supplication  at  the  church 
until  their  return,  much  good  resulting  therefrom. 
These  meetings  were  held  continuously  for  many 
weeks,  with  frequent  mass-meetings  in  the  evening. 

After  the  close  of  the  Crusade,  the  meetings  were 
held  regularly,  with  more  or  less  frequency,  as  circum- 
stances required,  until  early  last  year,  when  the  League 
was  suspended,  and  the  commencement  of  the  present 
year  a Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
formed,  auxiliary  to  the  State  Union.  Most  excellent 
temperance  work  has  been  done  in  the  town  and 
county,  for  which  we  give  God  the  glory. 

MARION,  OHIO. 

“For  weeks  before  we  took  any  forward  step  in  the 
temperance  work  in  our  own  place,  our  hearts  had 
been  fired  by  reading  of  what  had  been  done  in  other 
places.  Hillsboro’  and  Washington  Court-House 
seemed  the  scenes  of  miracles.  Other  towns  and 
18 


274 


CRUSADE  AT  MARION, 


villages  fell  into  line.  But  we  halted.  Could  we  do 
anything  ? ” 

At  last  an  informal  meeting  was  held  on  February 
23d.  It  was  resolved  to  circulate  two  petitions,  one  to 
our  State  Legislature,  asking  that  “ no  change  be 
made  in  the  famous  Adair  Liquor  Law,”  and  one  to 
the  Constitutional  Convention,  praying  that  our  legis- 
lative bodies  have  the  right  reserved  to  them  of  enact- 
ing prohibitory  laws  with  regard  to  the  sale  and 
manufacture  of  all  alcoholic  liquors.  Twelve  hundred 
and  twenty-five  signatures  were  obtained  to  the  first 
of  these  petitions,  and  twelve  hundred  and  fifty-five  to 
the  second. 

A large  and  enthusiastic  mass-meeting  was  held  on 
Sabbath,  r.  m.,  and  on  Monday,  March  2d,  a business 
meeting.  Most  of  the  places  of  business  were  closed, 
and  the  largest  audience-room  in  the  place  was  packed 
almost  to  suffocation.  One  hundred  and  eighty-five 
women  pledged  themselves  to  co-operate  in  the 
“Women’s  Temperance  Movement,”  until  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors,  as  a beverage,  was  abolished. 
One  hundred  and  sixty  men  pledged  themselves  to 
sustain  the  women  in  their  work.  It  was  decided  to 
hold  a daily  prayer-meeting  “ during  the  war.” 

“ March  6th,  Mother  Stewart  was  with  us.  The 
following  note  of  the  day  is  in  the  words  of  our  Secre- 
tary at  that  time : 

“Although  the  day  was  exceedingly  inclement,  we 
decided  the  trial-moment  had  come,  and  we  marched 
upon  the  street  with  Mother  Stewart  at  our  front. 
We  went  with  trembling,  but  God’s  grace,  which  never 


CRUSADE  AT  MARION. 


275 


faileth  in  the  hour  of  need,  strengthened  us  by  the 
way,  and  as  we  knelt  upon  the  muddy  pavement,  we 
felt  God’s  Spirit  overshadowing  and  leading  us.  Four 
saloons  were  visited,  but  the  doors  were  barred  against 
our  entrance.  We  prayed  that  the  Spirit  which  can 
work,  and  no  man  hinder,  might  enter  there. 

“At  a mass-meeting  on  the  evening  of  March  9th,  we 
were  cheered  by  our  first  unconditional  surrender.  A 
stock  guarantee  fund  of  forty  thousand  (^40,000)  dollars, 
afterwards  increased  to  fifty  thousand,  was  also  raised 
at  this  time.  The  object  of  this  fund  was,  so  it  was 
stated,  was  to  prosecute  liquor-dealers,  and  it  could 
only  be  used  for  prosecutions,  and  for  defending  the 
women  in  prosecutions,  should  any  arise  ; and  great  as 
has  been  our  need  of  funds  at  different  times,  not  a 
cent  of  it  has  ever  passed  into  our  hands, 

“As  the  days  and  weeks  passed  by  we  received  other 
promises  from  liquor-dealers  to  stop  selling.  Six 
ceased  entirely,  though  some  of  them  have  since  re- 
sumed the  traffic.  New  ones  have  started  up  within 
the  past  two  years,  so  that  we  are  often  met  with  the 
taunting  question,  ‘ What  good  did  your  Crusade  do  ? 
The  town  is  worse  off  than  it  was  before.’  But  look- 
ing back,  we  can  see  good  that  has  been  accomplished. 
Daily  the  bands  visited  the  saloons,  and  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  was  heard  from  such  unaccustomed 
places,  for  a brief  while  each  day,  though  often  the 
sounds  of  cursing  and  revelry  mingled  with  the 
prayers.  One  such  scene  the  writer  remembers  dis- 
tinctly, It  was  Saturday  afternoon,  and  the  village 
was  thronged  with  people  from  the  surrounding  coun- 


276  ■ CRUSADE  AT  MARION. 

try,  full  of  curiosity  to  see  the  ‘ praying  women.’ 
One  of  the  bands  entered  a saloon  on  the  busiest  part 
of  Main  street.  Coarse,  rough  men,  others  quiet, 
observant,  and  boys  eager  and  interested,  thronged 
the  pavement.  The  rear  part  of  the  saloon  was  full 
of  men,  one  degree  coarser  than  those  without,  smok- 
ing, drinking,  swearing,  scoffing.  As  the  band  entered, 
one  of  our  sweet  Crusade  hymns  rose  on  the  air. 
We  were  told  to  ‘be  brief.  They  were  very  busy, 
and  wanted  no  interruption.’  A few  verses  of  Scrip- 
ture were  read,  and  a sister  led  in  prayer,  and  siuh  a 
praye7\  The  wife  of  the  proprietor  told  her  to  stop, 
but  she  prayed  on ; finally,  she  shook  her,  but  the 
prayer  flowed  calmly  and  earnestly  on,  as  if  the  air 
carried  no  sound  but  her  own  voice  to  the  listening 
ear  above.  A German  sister  immediately  followed, 
and  while  she  prayed  the  door  was  locked.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  intention,  the  door  was  opened 
while  we  sang  at  the  close  of  her  prayer,  and  we 
passed  out.  Committees  of  two  or  three  were  also 
sent  at  times  to  talk  with  saloon-keepers. 

“We  had  at  this  time  two  hundred  and  sixty- t\vo 
women  pledged  to  the  work. 

“ Early  in  April,  pickets  were  stationed  at  the  princi- 
pal saloons.  This  work  w'as  kept  up  more  or  less 
closely  until  the  Crusade  work  ceased. 

“April  6th,  being  our  local  election  day,  and  the 
saloons  closed  by  law,  was  devoted  to  an  all-day 
prayer-meeting.  We  began  at  six  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  and  during  the  hours  of  the  day,  earnest 
prayers  went  up,  that  the  cause  of  right  and  temper- 


CRUSADE  AT  MARION.  . 277 

ance  might  triumph,  and  the  Lord  show  His  power  in 
controlling  the  affairs  of  men.  The  liquor  interest 
made  a desperate  fight,  but  the  victory  was  essentially 
ours,  though  much  of  the  good  we  hoped  from  it  was 
lost  by  the  mismanagement  of  men. 

“Nothing  daunted  the  ladies  prepared  and  presented 
to  the  council  a petition,  signed  by  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five  men  and  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  women, 
praying  that  a prohibitory  ordinance  be  added  to  our 
municipal  code,  but  though  there  was  a majority  of 
the  voters,  the  council  was  divided  against  itself,  and 
our  petition  was  lost. 

“ May  20th,  the  chairman  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  guarantee  fund  requested  that  the  ‘ladies 
should  retire  from  the  streets.’  After  considerable 
discussion,  it  was  decided  to  do  so  for  a time.  We 
never  resumed  the  work  in  that  form. 

“July  9th,  officers  were  elected,  and  constitution 
adopted  for  permanent  organization.  Weekly  prayer- 
meetings  have  been  held  ever  since. 

• “ The  county  has  been  thoroughly  canvassed  twice  ; 
once  against  the  license  clause  of  the  new  constitution, 
and  once  in  the  endeavor  to  thoroughly  organize  it. 

“After  the  formation  of  the  Woman’s  National  Union, 
we  changed  our  name  of  League,  to  Women’s  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union,  of  Marion,  Ohio. 

“We  feel  that  we  have  done,  and  can  do,  oh,  so  little  ; 
but  we  can  pray,  and  ‘prayer  moves  the  arm  that 
moves  the  world.’  ” 


278  CRUSADE  AT  WEST  UNION  AND  FELICITY. 

WEST  UNION,  OHIO. 

This  little  village,  of  only  four  hundred  inhabitants, 
had  four  saloons.  For  years  and  years  they  had  been 
doing  their  deadly  work,  paralyzing  business  and 
wasting  the  resources  and  ruining  the  homes  of  the 
people. 

The  women  of  this  staid  old  town  had  never  thought 
it  possible  to  change  this  order  of  things.  But  as  soon 
as  the  success  of  Crusaders  elsewhere  became  known, 
they  rallied  to  the  work  with  such  zeal  and  earnestness 
that  in  a very  short  time  the  whole  town  was  ablaze 
with  temperance  enthusiasm,  and  eve7'y  saloon  was  closed. 

FELICITY,  OHIO. 

Felicity,  a quiet  little  village,  a few  miles  back  from 
the  Ohio  river,  and  thirty  miles  by  road  from  Cincin- 
nati, had  one  saloon. 

The  women  had  watched  the  desolatinor  work  of 

o 

that  saloon,  and  encouraged  by  the  example  of  their 
sisters  in  other  places,  they  determined,  if  possible,  to 
close  it. 

A meeting  was  called,  and  the  women  met  and  con- 
secrated themselves  for  any  part  of  the  work  God 
migrht  demand  of  them. 

But  while  they  yet  prayed.  He  answered;  and  when, 
a few  days  later,  the  band  visited  the  saloon,  they  found 
that  terror  had  taken  hold  of  the  dealer,  and  that  he 
had  shipped  his  liquors  back  to  Cincinnati,  and  the 
room  was  being  cleaned  and  put  in  order  for  other 
purposes. 


CRUSADE  AT  LEBANON. 


279 


LEBANON,  OHIO. 

Lebanon  was  noted  for  its  morality. 

The  town  contained  about  four  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, and  had  nine  churches,  and  only  three  saloons. 

It  had  been,  from  the  very  beginning  of  its  exist- 
ence, a temperance  town,  and  a prohibitory  ordinance 
had  been  passed  years  before  by  the  town  council. 

These  men.  In  defiance  of  law,  were  selling  liquors; 
but  the  municipal  authorities  did  not  put  a stop  to  the 
traffic. 

A great  deal  of  enthusiasm  had  been  created  by  the 
trial  of  the  ladies  of  Morrow,  which  took  place  in  this 
town.  Many  of  the  citizens  of  Morrow  had  accom- 
panied the  ladies  to  the  court,  and  the  Lebanon  ladies 
provided  dinner  for  them,  and  rejoiced  with  them  when 
Schelde  was  defeated.  But  the  ladies  were  slow  to 
begin  the  Crusade  work. 

They  believed  that  the  men,  who  had  the  law  on  their 
side,  ought  to  shut  up  all  three  of  the  saloons  without 
their  help.  And  perhaps  the  men  thought  so,  too,  but 
it  was  not  easy  to  get  evidence. 

Rev.  E.  B.  Burrows,  a young  Congregational  minis- 
ter, went  to  Cincinnati,  secretly,  and  employed  a de- 
tective. 

The  detective,  after  lounging  about  the  saloons  fora 
few  days,  had  proof  enough  to  sustain  a prosecution, 
and  Brady  and  Glady  were  arrested.  Brady  owned  two 
saloons.  The  liquor-dealers  rallied  the  roughs  and 
drunkards  to  bully  the  court  and  carry  through  the 
case  after  the  usual  style.  But  the  temperance  ele- 
ment was  aroused,  and  the  building  was  crowded  with 


28o 


CRUSADE  AT  GRANVILLE. 


the  best  and  wealthiest  citizens  of  the  town.  The  two 
men  were  convicted,  fined,  and  sent  to  prison. 

Immediately  they  began  to  negotiate  for  a com- 
promise— “If  the  fines  and  imprisonment  were  remit- 
ted, and  the  prisoners  allowed  to  go  free,  they  would 
leave  the  town.” 

And  so  a compromise  was  made,  and  two  of  the 
saloons  closed  their  doors. 

The  other  saloon-keeper,  Nate  Wood,  was  arrested, 
tried,  fined,  and  imprisoned.  He  paid  his  fine,  served 
out  his  time  in  jail,  and  went  back  to  his  business  as 
though  nothing  had  happened.  But  he  now  confined 
himself  to  legal  sales.  Under  the  law  of  the  State, 
liquor  must  not  be  sold  to  be  drunk  on  the  premises. 
He  filled  little  bottles  for  his  customers,  and  they  could 
pass  out  to  a vacant  lot  or  some  convenient  corner  and 
take  their  drinks. 

The  women  organized  and  visited  his  saloon,  and 
entreated  him  to  stop.  At  last,  after  much  boasting 
that  he  had  plenty  of  money  and  could  stand  the  siege, 
he  closed  his  saloon  and  left  the  town. 

GRANVILLE,  OHIO. 

There  were  only  four  saloons  in  Granville.  One 
of  the  dealers  being  a Jew,  would  not,  on  “account  of 
his  religion,”  allow  the  ladies  to  come  into  his  saloon 
to  pray.  But  he  spread  carpeting  on  the  sidewalk, 
and  brouofht  out  chairs  for  their  accommodation,  and 
they  held  their  prayer-meetings  daily  in  front  of  his 
saloon. 

One  hotel-keeper  closed  his  doors  against  them,  but 


CRUSADE  AT  GRANVILLE, 


281 


Standing  by  the  closed  door  they  sang ; “ Behold  a’ 
stranger  at  the  door.”  A lady  who  was  present  said  : 
“ It  seemed  as  though  the  words  had  been  prepared 
for  the  occasion,  and  O’Kane  had  written  the  music 
for  just  such  a time  and  place:  it  can  never  sound  to 
me  again  as  it  did  that  day.” 

There  was  a woman  who  kept  a saloon  and  grocery 
just  outside  of  the  corporation  limits.  Just  before 
leaving  the  church  to  visit  her  saloon,  the  women  were 
told  that  she  was  a rough  and  dangerous  character, 
that  she  had  whipped  her  husband  and  driven  him 
away,  and  that  the  parish  priest,  for  she  was  a Roman 
Catholic,  could  do  nothing  with  her.  But  trusting  in 
God,  the  women  went  forth  to  visit  her.  They  found 
her  son  in  charge  of  the  store ; she  was  in  the  back 
yard  very  angry.  The  ladies  went  out  to  her,  but  she 
told  them  she  had  no  time  to  talk  with  them. 

When  they  next  visited  her  saloon,  the  liquors  had 
all  been  sent  away ; and  she  was  willing  to  talk  to  the 
ladies  in  a respectful  manner. 

The  Crusaders  then  visited  the  brewery.  Mrs, 
Thomas  Adams  gives  the  following  graphic  account 
of  that  visit:  “Two  ferocious  dogs  were  kept  by  the 
brewer,  which  he  let  loose  upon  us,  but  the  dogs 
would  not  harm  us.  The  man  paced  to  and  fro  like 
an  enraged  lion  in  his  cage,  and  raved  like  a mad 
man.” 

In  a short  time  all  the  saloons  were  closed. 


282  CRUSADE  AT  LEESBURG,  BLANCHESTER,  ETC. 

LEESBURG,  OHIO. 

The  Crusade,  which  commenced  January  29th,  closed 
out  all  the  saloons  in  two  weeks,  and  ^50,000  was  sub- 
scribed as  a guarantee  fund  to  keep  it  clear.  A cor- 
respondent wrote : “The  last  spike  was  driven  in  the 
coffin  of  King  Alcohol  to-day.” 

BLANCHESTER,  OHIO. 

The  work  commenced  in  February,  and  the  little 
village  of  600  was  soon  cleared  of  the  traffic. 

GOSHEN,  OHIO. 

The  Crusade  was  successful  in  this  place,  and  when 
the  last  saloon  closed,  all  the  bells  in  town  were  rung. 

The  overjoyed  people,  who  were  in  their  homes  at 
the  time,  ran  bareheaded  into  the  streets,  to  join  the 
praying  band ; the  children  of  the  public  schools  were 
dismissed,  which  added  to  the  enthusiasm.  The  only 
keg  of  beer  found  in  the  saloon  was  rolled  out,  and 
the  bung  knocked  in,  and  its  contents  poured  into  the 
gutter.  The  enthusiasm  was  so  great,  that  many  em- 
braced each  other  and  wept  for  joy. 

ZALESKI,  OHIO. 

All  the  saloons  in  this  little  village  were  closed  by 
the  Crusade. 

TROY,  OHIO. 

On  the  1 8th  February,  1874,  the  Christian  women 
of  Troy  came  together  with  one  accord  to  pray  for  the 
removal  of  the  curse  of  intemperance.  They  numbered 
fifty-three.  Their  number  increased  from  day  to  day,  as 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD.  283 

continued  meetings  were  held,  A wonderful  degree 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  manifest. 

On  the  2 2d,  a Temperance  League  was  formed  by 
the  simple  election  of  a President  (Mrs.  J.  B.  Riley), 
and  Secretary  (Mrs.  E.  B.  Meeks),  and  the  adoption 
of  the  solemn  agreement  to  "'■Make  common  cause 
against  the  commoji  enemy,  IntemperanceT  To  this 
pledge  were  signed  737  names.  That  pledge  has  been 
kept  until  the  present  date,  September  20th,  1877. 

Daily  meetings  were  held  for  two  years;  since  that 
they  are  semi-weekly.  Many  have  been  reformed.  To 
God  be  the  glory  forever. 

MANSFIELD,  OHIO. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Fanny  W.  Leiter,  State 
Secretary,  for  the  following  facts  : 

The  deep  interest  on  the  subject  of  Temperance 
which  had  been  aroused  in  the  hearts  of  our  citizens 
by  the  spirit  which  was  abroad,  in  the  land,  found  relief 
in  action  about  the  25th  of  February,  when  a petition 
was  circulated,  receiving  600  signatures,  and  presented 
to  the  mayor,  praying  for  a better  enforcement  of  our 
Sunday  laws. 

Immediately  following  this,  a few  of  our  earnest 
women  assembled  at  the  residence  of  one  of  their 
number,  and,  as  a result  of  this  gathering,  on  Sunday, 
March  ist,  notices  were  read  in  all  the  churches,  call- 
ing for  a meeting  of  the  women,  to  be  held  in  the 
basement  of  the  Methodist  Church  on  the  following 
afternoon.  Before  the  meeting:  was  called  to  order 
every  chair  was  occupied  and  standing  room  was  in 


284 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


demand.  The  faces  of  that  audience  would  have  been 
a study  for  an  artist.  Deep  earnestness  was  the  pre- 
vailing expression,  varied  by  every  shade  of  emotion^ 
such  as  curiosity,  doubt,  fear,  credulity,  enthusiasm, 
hopefulness.  Young  faces  took  on  an  unusual  grav- 
ity ; older  ones  were  lighted  by  new  and  strong  feel- 
ing ; even  women,  bowed  by  three-score  years  and 
ten,  seemed  filled  with  youthful  ardor,  and  added  dig- 
nity and.  animation  to  the  scene. 

The  petty  distinction  of  wealth  and  social  standing 
was  forgotten,  as  swayed  by  one  common  impulse, 
all  minds  were  busy  with  the  question:  “What  can 
we  do  to  destroy  this  common  evil  of  intemperance?” 

Mrs.  McVay  stated  the  reasons  that  seemed  to 
demand  such  a gathering  of  the  women  of  our  city. 

After  the  appointment  of  a temporary  chairman, 
many  short  and  telling  speeches  were  made  by  w'omen 
who,  perhaps,  had  never  before  expressed  their  minds 
to  an  audience,  and,  as  a forward  step,  a committee 
of  seven  ladies  was  directed  to  call  upon  the  mayor, 
and  see  what  he  could  do  to  aid  us.  This  committee 
met  on  Tuesday,  and  after  prayer,  proceeded  to  visit 
his  honor,  the  mayor.  His  signature  was  obtained  to 
a paper  promising  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  enforce 
the  laws  bearing  upon  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors. 

The  meeting  of  April  5th  was  held  in  the  IMethodist 
Church,  filling  the  audience  room. 

After  some  preliminary  discussion  the  “Women’s 
Christian  Temperance  League,”  of  Mansfield,  was 
organized  with  the  following  officers: 

o o 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


285 


President,  Mrs,  J.  H.  Reed;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Fannie 
Leiter;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  M.  Brinker- 
hoff ; Treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Geddes. 

A Vice-President  from  eagh  of  the  twelve  churches 
in  the  city,  was  also  appointed, 

A strong  personal  pledge  was  passed  around,  and 
signed  by  nearly  every  one  present.  Letters  were 
read  from  several  of  the  ministers  of  the  city,  express- 
ing sympathy  with  the  movement,  and  bidding  us 
“ God  speed.” 

Restrictive  pledges,  signed  by  most  of  the  physi- 
cians and  druggists,  were  handed  in,  unsolicited. 

Women  held  morning  prayer-meetings,  which  were 
largely  attended  by  business  men  who  had  agreed  to 
close  their  places  of  business  during  one  hour  in  the’ 
forenoon. 

The  men  agreed  to  raise  a fund,  if  possible,  amount- 
ing to  ^100,000,  to  be  assessed,  not  to  exceed  more 
than  one  per  cent.  This  was  a very  substantial  proof 
of  the  interest  the  men  took  in  the  work  of  reform, 
and  the  women  were  very  thankful  for  the  means  to 
carry  on  the  work.  Prayer-meetings  were  held  both 
forenoon  and  afternoon,  and  largely  attended  by  men 
as  well  as  women.  Committees  appointed  to  visit 
saloons,  by  twos,  performed  their  work  faithfully. 
One  of  them,  the  smallest  one  too,  said  she  had  “ seen 
the  giants  ” and  was  not  aff^'ighted.  All  seemed  of 
one  mind  that  the  time  had  come  to  visit  saloons  in 
bands,  and  pray  for  saloon-keepers  face  to  face.  The 
President  expressed  her  willingness  to  do  so  if  enough 
were  agreed  as  touching  this  one  thing.  After  some 


286 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


talk  and  a few  moments  spent  in  silent  prayer,  the 
question  was  put,  and  over  one  hundred  rose  to  their 
feet,  though  with  manifest  trembling. 

The  ladies  who  went  to  Ashland  returned  and  made 
a favorable  report  of  the  street  work  being  done  there. 
The  desire  to  undertake  a similar  work  here  was  acted 
upon.  All  of  the  advisory  committee  approved,  and 
on  taking  a vote  of  the  League,  all  rose  to  their  feet. 
Feeling  had  intensified  and  conviction  deepened  until 
many  who,  at  the  outset  of  the  work,  shuddered  at  the 
thought,  were  willing  to  take  the  course  so  strongly 
pointed  out  to  them  by  Providence.  The  weather  was 
very  inclement,  and  physical  as  well  as  moral  courage 
was  in  demand.  A feeling  of  great  solemnity  pre- 
vailed as  the  procession,  headed  by  the  president  and 
secretary,  moved  out  upon  the  street.  The  band  was 
formidable  in  point  of  numbers,  nearly  five  hundred, 
many  who  were  not  members  of  the  League,  joining 
in,  to  express  their  approbation  of  the  movement. 
All  the  saloons  on  each  side  of  Main,  down  to  Fourth 
street,  were  visited. 

The  first  three  compelled  us  to  hold  our  services 
upon  the  pavement,  all  kneeling  during  the  prayers. 
The  proprietor  of  a fourth  was  willing  to  admit  the 
ladies,  but  the  room,  an  underground  apartment,  was 
already  so  packed  with  men  and  boys,  who  had  con- 
gregated for  the  purpose  of  witnessing,  and  thwarting 
the  effort,  that  it  was  impossible  for  more  than  twelve 
or  fifteen  to  gain  access;  and  the  uproar  of  the  multi- 
tude proclaiming  for  their  idol,  seemed  to  defeat,  for  a 
little  time,  our  purpose.  Finally,  one  of  the  band. 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


287 


pressed  in  spirit,  stepped  upon  a chair, — in  the  very 
presence  of  that  rebellious  crowd.  They  were  hushed 
in  a moment  to  profound  stillness,  as  she  poured  forth 
her  soul  in  behalf  of  the  perishing  people. 

The  ladies,  as  many  as  could  get  in,  were  admitted 
in  several  other  places,  and  treated  with  respect. 

The  convictions  that  followed  the  experiences  of 
this  day  proved  the  turning-point  with  many  women, 
who,  previous  to  this,  were  undecided  as  to  their  duty 
in  this  matter. 

March  13th. — The  ladies  went  in  two  columns  and 
visited  all  the  drinkinor  establishments  from  Fourth 

o 

street  to  the  railroad.  Exercises  were  conducted 
mostly  on  the  pavement,  large  crowds  of  people 
standing  around;  some  listened  reverently  and  others 
talking  angrily;  the  angry  tones  were  mostly  in  a for- 
eign tongue.  Some  declared  that  if  this  thing  was  to 
go  on  long,  they  would  go  back  to  Faderland,  where 
they  could  drink  their  lager  in  peace,  with  no  vinnncn 
to  “molest  or  make  them  afraid.” 

March  14th. — We  divided  our  forces  into  smaller 
bands — organizing  six,  with  the  more  active  ones  as 
leaders.  Three  bands  met  toorether  in  the  morninof, 
spent  an  hour  in  prayer,  and  then  an  hour  or  two  in 
singing,  praying,  and  talking  temperance,  either  in 
saloons,  or  on  the  pavement,  or  gutter  in-  front  of 
them.  This  programme  was  repeated  with  little  varia- 
tion in  the  afternoon.  They  were  warned  against  coii- 
centratwn,  and  threatened  with  the  contents  of  beer 
barrels;  nevertheless  they  continued  X.o  concentrate,  and 
“bearded  the  lion  in  his  den”  so  long  as  seemed  unto 
them  good. 


288 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


The  McConnelsville  Ordinance,  somewhat  modified, 
was  passed  March  17th,  to  the  great  joy  of  many 
friends  of  temperance  and  the  sorrow  of  others,  who 
believed  that  prayer  was  the  only  weapon  to  be  used 
in  this  warfare,  and  that  the  rumsellers  themselves 
were  quite  as  open  to  its  influence  as  the  executors  of 
the  law.  Election  day,  April  5th,  was  observed  by 
the  members  of  the  League  as  a day  of  fasting  and 
prayer.  There  was  undivided  joy  over  the  result  of 
the  election,  which  gave  a majority,  considered  in  favor 
of  temperance,  and  left  the  council  as  before — three 
against  and  five  for  the  ordinance. 

April  1st,  the  day  when  the  ordinance  should  have 
gone  into  force,  saw  every  saloon  closed,  at  least  in 
appearance,  and  silence  reigned  in  our  streets  for 
the  space  of  half  a month,  save  an  occasional  meeting 
in  one  of  the  wholesale  liquor-houses.  Several  saloon- 
ists  had  agreed,  previous  to  this,  to  quit  the  business 
— two  of  them  women.  Eighteen  less  licenses  for 

O 

selling  liquors  were  taken  out  on  May  ist,  1874,  than 
on  May  ist,  1873.  Official  returns  showed  a great 
decrease  in  the  amount  of  liquors  of  all  kinds  sold  in 
the  month  of  Eebruar}^  March  and  April,  of  1874. 
A property-holders’  pledge  was  circulated  and  gener- 
ally signed.  Druggists’  and  physicians’  pledges  were 
pressed  earnestly  and  signed,  with  but  a very  few  ex- 
ceptions, by  the  men  of  influence.  A petition  against 
license  received  nearly  1,000  signatures.  Personal 
pledges  were  made  by  many,  the  turning-point  to  a 
better  life.  Our  all-day  sessions  of  the  League,  the 
four  mass-meetings  a week  at  the  Opera  House,  the 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD, 


289 


Sunday  afternoon  prayer  and  conference  meetings, 
were  all  attended  and  participated  in  by  a very  large 
number  of  the  better  class  of  our  citizens. 

In  a word,  a strong  tide  of  temperance  sentiment 
prevailed,  which,  taken  at  the  flood,  by  those  who 
should,  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  have  ruled  our  city 
in  the  fear  of  God,  would  have  led  on  to  the  entire 
overthrow  of  the  liquor  traffic  and  its  consequent  evils. 
This  fortunate  end  was  not  reached. 

Nevertheless,  in  the  language  of  one  of  our  beloved 
co-workers,  Mrs,  Wilson,  “ God  honors  the  smallest 
particle  of  faith  in  Him.”  We  hesitate  not  to  claim 
the  undeniable  good  wrought  in  our  midst  as  answers 
vouchsafed  to  the  mapy  believing  prayers  offered  by 
earnest  and  untiring  workers  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. We  heard  more  than  one  ex-saloonist  say  that 
he  was  glad  he  had  quit  a business  which  did  harm 
to  himself  and  customers.  Our  hearts  were  gladdened 
every  Sabbath  by  seeing  those  seated  among  us, 
clothed  and  in  their  right  minds,  who,  one  year  before, 
were  estranged  from  church,  family  and  friends  by  that 
destroyer  of  all  the  better  faculties  of  the  soul — in- 
temperance. Many  of  our  faithful  and  devout  sisters 
gave  it  as  their  experience  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
that  it  had  been  the  richest  and  noblest  of  their  lives. 
“Good  measure,  pressed  down  and  running  over,” 
was  given  them  by  the  rewarder  of  the  faithful. 

The  daily  meetings  of  the  League,  the  visiting  of 
saloons  in  bands,  or  as  committees,  the  circulation  of 
the  various  pledges  and  petitions,  the  distributing 
of  tracts,  the  visiting  of  those  sick,  and  in  prison,  and 
19 


290 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


a large  amount  of  private  temperance  work,  took  a 
great  deal  of  time  and  strength.  This  work  was 
done,  mostly,  by  women  whose  domestic  cares  had, 
heretofore,  occupied  their  time  and  thoughts.  It  was 
a work  added  to  the  more  important,  and  done  in  place 
of  the  less  important  duties  of  wives,  mothers  and 
sisters,  but  it  was  done  promptly  and  cheerfully,  and 
not  one  of  them  all  died  from  the  overwork  or  ex- 
posure. 

We  have  yet  to  learn  that  any  member  of  the  house- 
holds represented,  were  materially  injured  by  the  re- 
duced fare  of  their  tables,  or  the  depleted  state  of 
their  wardrobes.  Still,  after  so  long  a time  as  eight 
weeks,  the  fact  was  recognized  that  the  Crusaders 
were  not  blessed  as  the  wanderino-  Israelites,  “ whose 
garments  waxed  not  old  upon  them,  whose  shoes 
waxed  not  old  upon  their  feet,  and  whose  bread 
dropped  from  heaven  ! ” Working-time  was  at  first 
reduced  one-half ; then  three  meetings  a week  were 
held,  and  this  continued  until  the  ist  of  Auofust.  The 
work  upon  the  street  changed  its  form  several  times, 
to  suit  the  change  in  the  impressions  of  the  workers, 
as  to  the  better  mode  of  conducting  such  services. 
The  last  direct  appeals  to  the  saloonists,  were  made  on 
the  27th  of  May — nearly  three  months  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  work.  The  dealers  in  liquors,  both  whole- 
sale and  retail,  who,  at  first,  were  at  least  polite,  and 
often  apologetic,  in  their  talks  with  the  ladies,  offering 
to  quit  the  business  if  any  other  employment  could  be 
found,  or  to  sell  out  at  half  or  one-fourth  the  value, 
again  revived  their  courage,  under  the  failure  to  en- 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


291 


force  the  ordinance,  and  evident  cooling  off  of  some 
advocates  of. the  movement,  and  closed  their  doors 
and  ears  to  all  appeals.  Otit-door  meetings  were  held 
in  various  parts  of  the  city,  in  the  daytime  conducted 
by  the  women,  and  on  Friday  evening  in  the  Park, 
mostly  addressed  by  our  ministers  and  lawyers,  who 
were  not  yet  afraid  to  speak  their  minds  on  the  subject 
of  temperance.  Meetings  of  this  kind  were  kept  up 
as  long  as  the  weather  permitted.  Then  prayer- 
meetings  in  private  houses  were  undertaken,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  League,  which  have  been  fruitful 
of  much  good. 

Mrs.  Leiter,  an  active  member  of  the  League,  was 
chosen  as  Secretary  of  the  State  Temperance  organ- 
ization. A convention,  held  in  the  interest  of  the 
cause,  made  up  of  delegates  from  the  several  town- 
ships of  Richland  county,  convened  in  the  Opera  House, 
June  13th,  1874.  A permanent  county  organization  was 
effected,  with  Mrs.  McVay,  President;  Mrs.  Patterson, 
Secretary;  Mrs.  Mercer,  Treasurer,  and  one  Vice-Presi- 
dent from  each  township. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a good  work  for  this 
county;  men  and  women  going  miles  into  the  country 
to  talk  temperance  up,  and  license  down.  The  ma- 
jority against  license  was  largely  increased  by  the  vote 
of  Richland  county.  A temperance  picnic,  held  on  the 
4th  of  July,  and  addressed  by  “Mother  Stewart,”  was 
a success  in  every  way.  On  July  25th  the  trial  of  W m. 
Etz,  for  breaking  the  Ale  and  Beer  Ordinance,  was 
begun,  and  occupied  the  attention  of  the  people  for 
five  days,  being  held  in  the  court-room.  The  temper- 


292 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


ance  women  attended,  both  as  witnesses  and  spectators, 
and  were  compelled  to  hear  more  unkind  remarks,  and 
to  receive  more  discourteous  treatment,  than  during 
the  entire  campaign,  up  to  that  time.  The  water 
showered  on  them,  from  a down*town  saloon,  was  (to 
speak  in  a figure)  but  a drop  to  the  buckets  fidl  dashed 
at  their  devoted  heads  by  these  vigorous  defenders  of 
the  beer-keg.  To  have  their  own  favorite  weapons,  the 
words  of  holy  writ,  arrayed  against  them  by  their  ene- 
mies, was  both  a surprise  and  a grief.  The  verdict 
rendered  in  the  case  was  a death-blow  to  any  hope  of 
the  ordinance  beinof  of  use  under  the  existinof  ad- 
ministration.  Nothing  was  really  lost  but  much  gained 
by  the  trial;  among  other  things  a better  knowledge 
of  the  foes  of  our  cause,  who  stand  as  well  behind  the 
bar  of  justice,  as  the  bar  of  the  saloon. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  quarter  a constitu- 
tion and  by-laws  were  adopted.  Previous  to  this  a 
simple  pledge  served  to  bind  us  together.  At  this 
time,  also,  a reporter  was  appointed,  who  gave  to  the 
public,  in  a series  of  articles,  such  work  of  the  League 
as  seemed  of  general  interest. 

Several  temperance  meetings  were  held  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  especially  for  children;  but  this  important 
branch  did  not  receive  the  attention  it  merited  until 
after  the  close  of  the  first  year.  In  the  latter  part  of 
August  the  League  meetinors  were  reduced  to  one 
each  week,  and  these  have  since  been  held  regularly 
upon  Wednesday  afternoon.  At  least  one  general 
temperance  meeting  was  held  each  month  during  the 
year. 


CRUSADE  AT  MANSFIELD. 


293 


During  the  winter  a permanent  place  of  organiza- 
tion came  into  effect.  Committees  were  appointed 
to  canvass  the  city  for  members,  presenting  at  the 
same  time  two  petitions  for  signatures — one  to  be 
sent  to  the  Ohio  Legislature,  praying  against  the 
repeal  of  the  Adair  law;  the  other  a memorial  to 
Congress,  askinor  for  restrictive  laws  in  the  manu- 
facture  of  alcoholic  drinks  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  the  Territories. 

Threo,  assessments  were  collected  in  part,  on  the 
^30,000  of  stock  actually  taken  by  the  temperance 
men  of  Mansfield,  for  the  use  of  the  League.  At  the 
time  of  permanent  organization  the  stockholders  were 
released  from  further  assessment. 

However  much  the  work  fell  short  of  the  desired 
end  during  the  months  usually  denominated  the  ex- 
istence of  the  Crusade  proper — whatever  weakness 
was  manifested  in  plan  or  performance,  we  are  sure 
of  one  thing:  it  was  done  in  the  fear  of  God  and  for 
love  of  humanity. 

The  great  mistake  committed  by  some,  was  in  con- 
sidering the  CrzLsade  ended  when  the  street  work 
ceased.  That  was  a striking  feature  of  the  work,  but 
a feature  only,  not  the  soul  or  body,  as  the  following 
months  have  demonstrated. 

Of  the  enthusiastic  500  who  went  forth  upon  that 
eventful  day  in  March,  1874,  the  majority  are  not  with 
us  in  active  work  at  this  time,  having  either  from 
necessity  returned  to  imperative  home  interests — 
though  their  hearts  are  still  in  the  work ; or,  with  the 
ebbing  tide  of  popular  sentiment,  drifted  to  the  open 


294 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPLEY. 


sea  of  indifference,  but  continuing  in  readiness  to  help 
swell  the  next  oncoming  wave. 

A score  and  more  of  earnest  laborers  have  con- 
tinued faithful,  through  some  opposition  and  many  dis- 
couragements, during  the  past  three  years,  guarding 
with  a jealous  care,  the  true  interests  of  this  great 
reform ; and  to-day  ask  no  greater  reward,  than  the 
consciousness  that  they  have  been  following  the  path 
of  duty. 

RIPLEY,  OHIO. 

This  beautiful  town  is  situated  on  the  Ohio  river, 
and  contains  about  3,500  inhabitants. 

The  place  became  prominent  during  anti-slavery 
times,  because  of  its  '"imder ground  railway!' 

If  a fugitive  slave  once  set  foot  on  the  streets  of 

o 

that  town,  he  was  safe,  no  matter  if  his  pursuers  were 
at  his  heels.  Somehow  or  other  he  was  spirited  away, 
and  though  every  house  was  searched  with  a lighted 
candle,  he  could  not  be  found. 

My  first  recollections  of  Ripley  were  in  this  connec- 
tion. I lived  in  Maysville,  Ky.,  a neighboring  town, 
which  was  an  important  slave  market,  and  often  whole 
families  would  escape  from  their  masters  and  find  a 
refuge  there;  and  though  so  hotly  pursued  that  they 
were  in  sight  when  they  entered  the  town,  nothing 
more  would  be  heard  of  them. 

But  while  fighting  human  slavery  so  heroically  and 
successfully,  that  all  southern  Kentucky  was  in  a 
measure  stripped  of  her  slaves,  the  other  slaver}’ — the 
worse  slavery  of  the  drink  habit,  was  carried  on 
without  restraint  in  their  midst. 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPLEY,  295 

But  early  in  the  Crusade  movement,  the  women 
rallied  to  this  work,  and  carried  it  on  heroically. 

The  Crusade  began  in  Ripley,  February  5th,  and  in 
nine  days  seventeen  saloons  were  closed.  Some  of 
the  German  dealers  were  so  frightened  and  disgusted, 
that  they  returned  to  the  “ Faderland.”  The  German 
minister  who  tried  to  rally  them  for  the  conflict,  was 
soon  prayed  out  of  town. 

A correspondent  writing  from  there  while  the  con- 
test was  going  on,  gives  the  following  graphic  account 
of  one  day’s  work : 

“ Saturday  we  went  to  Sprenger’s  with  an  advance 
guard ; for  we  had  heard  most  bitter  threats  that  he 
had  made.  Ima<jine  our  delight  when  he.  met  us  in 
the  most  cordial  way,  and,  after  singing  and  prayer, 
gave  us  his  name  to  the  dealers’  pledge.  Mr.  Flauser, 
the  German  druggist,  who  first  declined  to  sign  the 
pledge,  sent  for  the  ladies  and  gave  his  name  most 
willingly.  Mr,  Scholter  promised,  by  his  country,  his 
God,  and  his  wife,  never  to  sell  another  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor,  and  we  know  he  has  kept  it  in  the  face 
of  strong  entreaty  to  the  contrary.  Mr.  Reinert  re- 
ceived the  ladies  the  first  day,  but  the  second  closed 
his  door.  Down  on  their  knees  the  ladies  fell  upon 
the  pavement,  in  snow  and  sleet,  with  a most  pitiless 
wind  blowing.  Men  stood  with  uncovered  heads,  and 
the  crowd  wept.  A commander  of  our  navy,  who 
has  faced  death  and  danger,  said  he  could  not  endure 
this  sight,  and  tears  coursed  over  his  face.  Close 
against  the  pane  a mother  bowed  in  prayer,  and  a 
moment  later  the  door  was  opened,  and  Mr.  Reinert 


296 


CRUSADE  AT  TIFFIN. 


said,  ‘Ladies,  I will  quit  the  business;  send  a com- 
mittee of  your  business  men  to  me.’  They  went,  and 
he  arranged  to  dispose  of  his  stock.” 

Rev.  Granville  Moody,  a Methodist  minister,  who 
had  been  a colonel  in  the  Union  army  during  the  war — 
a man  of  wonderful  courage  and  possessing  great  wit 
and  power,' was  stationed  there  at  the  time,  and  backed 
up  the  work  by  his  influence.  His  wife,  a talented 
leader,  was  prominent  and  efficient  in  the  work. 

The  ladies  entered  every  open  door. 

The  steamer  Wildwood,  which  plied  daily  between 
Maysville  and  Cincinnati,  received  a share  of  their  at- 
tention, because  of  the  bar  on  board. 

One  day,  as  she  came  in  from  Maysville,  a large 
crowd  of  Crusaders  were  awaiting.  When  she  blew 
her  whistle  they  responded  with  sacred  song:  “Shall 
we  gather  at  the  river.” 

Captain  Powers,  a born  gentleman,  received  the 
ladies  politely,  and  conducted  them  on  board  the  boat, 
where  they  held  a prayer-meeting.  Captain  Powers 
signed  the  personal  pledge,  as  did  many  others,  and 
“the  bar-keeper  promised  not  to  sell  to  citizens  of 
Ripley.” 

All  the  meetings  in  this  town  were  remarkable  for 
spiritual  power,  and  the  prayerful  efforts  of  the  women 
in  their  work  were  crowned  with  a good  degree  of 
success. 

TIFFIN,  OHIO. 

This  town,  with  a population  of  nine  thousand,  had, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Crusade,  sixty-five  saloons. 

After  visiting  the  saloons  for  some  time,  in  bands,  the 


CRUSADE  AT  TIFFIN. 


297 


ladies  changed  their  tactics,  on  the  3 1 st  of  March,  and 
placed  pickets  at  nearly  all  the  saloons  in  the  city.  At 
some  they  were  admitted,  at  others  locked  out.  Sev- 
eral of  the  saloons  closed  on  account  of  the  pickets, 
and  the  proprietors  went  to  the  country. 

The  city  marshal,  at  several  places  where  the  guards 
were  denied  admittance,  opened  the  doors,  and  told 
the  ladies  to  enter  and  stay  as  long  as  they  pleased. 
The  traffic  dropped  off  wonderfully.  Christian  Muel- 
ler, the  principal  brewer,  said  that  if  the  Crusade  con- 
tinued thirty  days  longer  he  would  be  compelled  to 
shut  down. 

The  second  saloon  surrender  took  place  April  7th. 
It  was  kept  by  D.  Bartell,  and  was  one  of  the  worst 
saloons  in  the  city.  The  proprietor  signed  the  pledge, 
and  the  ladies  emptied  the  stock  of  liquors  in  his  cellar, 
into  the  gutter. 

Wagner  & Brickner,  proprietors  of  the  distillery, 
were  driven  almost  to  desperation.  They  were  com- 
pelled to  redeem  from  the  bonded  warehouse  ^5,000 
worth  of  whiskey  per  week  until  the  ist  of  May,  and 
their  sales  were  too  slim  to  aid  them  in  the  task. 

A public  meeting  was  called,  April  8th,  in  the  city 
hall,  to  take  measures  to  get  the  mayor,  to  issue  a 
proclamation  forbidding  the  women  the  right  to  carry 
on  the  Crusade  any  longer.  The  meeting  was  a fail- 
ure; only  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  saloon-keepers 
and  bummers  congregated,  while  the  temperance  mass- 
meeting at  National  Hall  was  overcrowded. 

The  ladies,  besides  going  to  the  saloons  in  bands, 
resorted  to  the  picket  system,  and  smaller  bands  re- 


298 


CRUSADE  AT  BELLEFONTAINE. 


mained  at  the  saloons,  from  eight  a.  m.  till  ten  p.  m.,  the 
pickets  being  changed  every  hour. 

This  proved,  during  the  Crusade,  to  be  the  most 
effectual  way  to  break  down  the  traffic.  None  but  men 
lost  to  shame  will  go  into  a saloon  in  the  presence  of 
Christian  women,  and  over  their  remonstrances  and 
prayers,  to  drink. 

BELLEFONTAINE,  OHIO. 

Mrs.  I.  S.  Gardner,  April  6th,  1874,  wrote  the  follow- 
ing in  regard  to  the  work : 

The  first  surrender  of  special  consequence  was  that 

of  J J . Mr.  J is  of  Irish  descent,  and  has 

been  used  to  liquor-selling  all  his  life.  He  was  one 
among  the  first  that  was  visited,  and  while  he  treated 
the  band  with  respect,  he  was  ver)^  loud  in  his  denuncia- 
tions against  this  interference  in  his  business.  His 

o 

place  was  considered  one  of  the  worst,  as  a general 
resort,  for  those  not  only  long  addicted  to  drink,  but 
also  for  those  just  commencing.  The  ladies  had  reason 
to  suppose  it  would  take  a long  siege  to  convince  him 
of  the  wrong,  much  less  induce  him  to  quit  the  busi- 
ness. 

On  Monday  the  first  visit  was  made.  On  Wednes- 
day he  began,  under  the  influence  of  Mother  Stewart’s 
talking,  to  show  signs  of  weakening.  He  had  pre- 
pared himself  for  a vigorous  biblical  controversy,  having 
his  Bible  in  hand  and  passages  selected  which  seemed 
to  him  to  support  his  position.  But  she  speedily 
knocked  the  props  from  under  him,  and  left  him  with- 
out the  support  he  had  counted  on.  At  the  morning 


CRUSADE  AT  BELLEFONTAINE. 


299 


meeting  on  Thursday  he  made  his  appearance,  and  an- 
nounced his  readiness  to  surrender,  and  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  those  in  whom  he  had  confidence,  made  it  com- 
plete by  signing  the  pledge  not  only  to  cease  selling,  but 
also  to  abstain  from  drinking.  The  scene  was  impres- 
sive. Every  heart  that  sympathized  in  the  movement 
was  full,  and  the  ladies  of  the  League,  and  others,  filed 
by  where  he  was  standing,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand 
bid  him  “God  speed.”  Since  then  he  has  made  some 
very  telling  speeches,  and  given  evidence  of  a contrite 
heart. 

The  other  case  is  that  of  Mr.  T.  L.  M . Even 

before  any  visits  were  made  to  him,  it  had  been  re- 
ported that  powder  and  lead  would  be  used  in  case 
of  interference  with  his  trade,  and  a band  went  there 
with  considerable  doubt,  but  with  brave  hearts.  For 
about  a week,  visits  were  made  under  various  con- 
ditions ; sometimes  noisy  demonstrations  were  made, 
as  well  as  rudeness  offered,  and  again  a better  show 
of  respect.  There  were  many  interesting  incidents 
connected  with  this  case,  which  would  take  too  much 
time  and  space  to  relate.  Finally,  one  afternoon,  he 
hung  out  a white  flag,  and  it  was  supposed  to  be  a 
token  of  surrender,  but  on  being  visited  by  a band,  he 
refused  to  sign  the  pledge,  nor  would  he  let  the  ladies 
stand  near  the  door.  On  the  next  day  a similar  scene 
was  enacted.  At  his  request  a committee  of  gentle- 
men visited  him,  and  settled  the  matter,  so  that,  on 
Wednesday  evening  of  the  week  following  the  first 
visit,  he  made  his  appearance  at  a mass-meeting  and 
signed  the  pledge.  On  the  following  Sabbath  he 


300 


CRUSADE  AT  BELLEFONTAINE. 


attended  church  for  the  first  time,  it  is  said,  in  five 
years.  It  is  believed  by  every  one  that  he  will  remain 
true  to  his  pledge.  Mr.  M.  was  a wholesale  and  retail 
dealer. 

Mr.  R is  the  only  one  who  holds  out,  under,  it 

is  believed,  the  support  of  dealers  in  Cleveland  and 
Cincinnati,  but  the  women  are  as  determined  as  the 
dealers,  and  have  the  advantage,  in  being  at  no  ex- 
pense. The  dealers  may  as  well  succumb,  as  the 
women  say  they  have  started  out  on  this  Crusade  for 
life,  if  necessary,  to  stop  the  traffic,  and  will  instruct 
their  daughters  to  keep  it  up.  The  only  work  per- 
formed here  is  picketing  Mr.  R ’s  establishment, 

which  is  done  more  to  redeem  the  hard  drinkers,  who 
are  about  the  only  ones  that  visit  the  place,  than  with 
the  expectation  of  closing  it  up.  This  latter  is  merely 
a matter  of  time.  IMrs.  I.  S.  Gardner, 

President  Ladies’  League,  Bellefontaine,  Ohio. 

I glean  the  following  from  the  Cincinnati  Gazette: 
April  4th. — “Roades  declares  that  onlylaw  can  prevail 
against  him.  Monday’s  election  will  be  an  exciting 
one.  Ladies  are  calling-  on  voters  and  urg-ing  them  to 
do  their  duty  on  Monday.” 

April  9th. — “The  election  passed  off  quietly,  al- 
though some  of  the  offices  were  hotly  contested. 
Mayor  Walker  was  re-elected.  The  women  are  un- 
tiring in  their  work  against  whiskey.  Judge  West 
addressed  a large  audience  on  Tuesday  evening,  and 
Judge  Cole  will  speak  to-night.” 

“ The  women  of  this  town  have  settled  down  to 
solid,  earnest,  persistent  work.” 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


301 


SPRINGFIELD,  OHIO. 

The  following  facts  are  gleaned  from  the  Spring- 
field  Republic,  the  special  correspondence  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati Gazette,  and  from  Mother  Stewart’s  statement; 

“The  first  mass-meeting  mentioned  occurred  January 
23d,  1872.  Allen  Hall  was  well  filled,  on  Monday 
evening,  on  the  occasion  of  an  address  on  the  liquor 
traffic,  by  Mrs.  E.  D.  Stewart.  The  speaker  gave  an 
interesting  and  able  address.”  Springfield  Republic. 

The  editor  of  this  paper,  Mr.  C.  M.  Nichols,  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  was  a staunch 
friend  of  temperance,  and  in  every  way,  before  and 
during  the  Crusade,  gave  aid  to  the  cause. 

Several  suits,  brought  by  the  wives  of  drunkards  to 
recover  damages,  under  the  Adair  law,  from  liquor- 
dealers,  added  to  the  general  interest. 

Mother  Stewart  hearing  accidentally  that  a woman 
had  such  a suit  pending  in  court,  in  company  with 
Mrs.  John  Foos,  went  to  the  court-room,  and  the 
attorney  for  the  plaintiff  induced  her  to  make  the 
opening  plea  to  the  jury. 

The  case  was  won,  and  the  wife  was  awarded  one 
hundred  dollars  damages. 

In  October,  1873,  another  case  was  brought  to  her 
notice.  A woman  in  deep  distress,  with  streaming 
eyes,  told  her  a sad  story  of  suffering  and  want.  Her 
husband  was  a drunkard. 

This  woman  belonged  to  a worthy  family,  was  the 
sister  of  a distinguished  minister  in  the  South,  who  at 
that  time  was  president  of  a college ; she  had  always 
been  accustomed  to  plenty,  till  robbed  of  all  by  the 


302 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


liquor-dealers.  Knowing  Mother  Stewart’s  connection 
with  the  case  above  mentioned,  she  appealed  to  her. 

To  fight  this  matter  through  the  courts  was  not  a 
pleasant  task,  and  she  was  about  to  turn  away  from 
the  woman  ; the  lines  of  wretchedness  on  that  sad, 
tearful  face,  arrested  her.  “No,  I dare  not  do  that; 
she  will  haunt  me  in  my  dying  hour,”  was  the  thought 
that  brought  her  to  a decision.  So  she  not  only 
accompanied  her  to  the  law  office  of  Mower  & Raw- 
lins, and  secured  the  aid  of  one  of  the  firm,  but  she 
stirred  up  the  ladies  of  Springfield  in  behalf  of  this 
woman,  so  cruelly  wronged  and  robbed  by  liquor- 
dealers. 

The  trial  was  fixed  for  the  i6th  of  October,  and 
many  ladies  were  in  the  court-room,  but  the  defence 
secured  a postponement  till  the  21st.  The  papers 
took  up  the  matter,  general  interest  was  excited,  and, 
when  the  day  of  trial  came,  the  court-room  was 
crowded  with  the  best  men  and  women  of  the  city. 
The  excitement  was  intense.  Mother  Stewart  made 
a plea,  and  charged  the  jury.  The  suit  was  gained, 
and  $2)00  awarded  to  the  wronged  wife  as  damages. 

In  the  meantime  a petition  to  the  city  council  was 
circulated,  and  the  names  of  six  hundred  ladies  and 
sixty  men  were  secured,  asking  the  council  to  enforce 
the  laws  for  the  suppression  of  intemperance.  This 
petition  was  presented  by  the  ladies,  and  INIother 
Stewart  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  S.  Guy  addressed  the  council 
in  its  behalf.  The  committee,  to  whom  this  petition 
was  referred  by  the  council,  made  the  following  report, 
which  shows  that  they  were  “men  of ivords,  if  not  of 
deeds 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


303 


“We  also  give  it  as  our  deliberate  judgment,  that 
the  matters  to  which  this  petition  refers  is  one  of  such 
transcendent  importance  as  to  demand  of  this  council 
the  exhausting  of  every  means  within  its  power  to 
divest  it  of  its  capacity  for  making  misery  and  crime 
within  our  midst. 

“The  universal  sense  of  the  Christian  world  con- 
demns drunkenness  as  a crime And  if 

this  be  so  on  recognized  principles,  measures  are 
demanded  to  prevent  it  and  punish  it. 

“ The  temperance  movement  throughout  the  land 
has  suffered  more  from  the  indiscretion  of  its  friends 
than  from  the  open  opposition  of  its  enemies. 

“We  are  therefore  not  in  favor  of  recommendinof 
council  to  grant  what  is  asked  for  by  the  peti- 
tioners.” 

The  city  council  formally  adopted  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  indulgence  in  intoxicating  drinks, 
whereby  neglect  and  want  are  brought  home  to  the 
family,  is  a crime  against  nature,  and  it  is  expedient  to 
exercise  any  authority,  or  impose  any  punishment, 
necessary  to  prevent  it. 

''Resolved,  That  it  is  an  apparent  and  acknowledged 
fact  that  there  is  an  indulgence  in  intoxicating  drinks 
in  this  city,  which  deprive  families  of  peace,  comfort, 
and  a proper  support,  and  there  are  those  who  take, 
in  exchange  for  their  drinks,  the  money  known  to  be 
needed  for  family  support,  contrary  to  law.” 

These  bombastic  resolutions  did  not  frighten  the 
rum-sellers.  They  went  on  with  their  illegal  sales 
without  fear.  They  had  learned  long  before,  that 


304 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


these  official  utterances  were  to  quiet  the  public  con- 
science, and  shield  law-makers  from  well-deserved 
contempt. 

The  Bible  in  the  pulpit  of  one  of  the  Methodist 
churches  was  stolen  and  sold  for  drink  in  a saloon. 
In  the  meantime,  Mrs.  Guy,  after  a night  of  watching 
and  prayer,  wrote  a resolution,  and  presented  it  to  the 
City  Benevolent  Association. 

The  result  was,  a committee  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  ministers,  and  secure  their  co-operation  in 
holding  mass-meetings.  The  ministers  were  called 
upon  in  their  weekly  meeting,  and  a union  mass- 
meeting  arranged  for  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  This 
first  meeting  took  place  December  2d,  1873.  The 
second  mass-meeting  occurred  December  17th,  and 
was  addressed  by  Revs.  J.  W.  Spring  and  Allen,  Mr. 
Jackson,  and  Mother  Stewart.  Every  seat  in  the  body 
of  the  Central  M.  E.  Church  was  filled,  and  the  aisles 
were  seated,  and  every  foot  of  standing-room  taken. 

The  speeches  were  strong  and  spirited,  and  there 
was  a great  deal  of  enthusiasm. 

When  Mr.  Nichols  was  called  on  to  speak,  he  asked 
that  the  audience  might  be  addressed  by  Mother 
Stewart  instead.  When  she  came  forward,  canning  a 
glass  tumbler  full  of  liquor,  and  told  where  and  how 
she  got  it,  the  interest  was  intense.  It  was  against 
the  law  to  sell  liquors  on  the  Sabbath  day ; but  every- 
body knew,  and  the  city  authorities  knew  well,  that  this 
law  was  being  broken  every  week.  On  Sunday 
morning,  December  i6th,  she  had  disguised  herself 
with  an  old  circular  cloak  and  sun-bonnet,  and  gone 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


305 


into  a saloon  through  the  back  door.  She  found  a 
number  of  young  men  and  old  buying  liquors.  Ap- 
proaching the  counter,  she  asked  for  a drink.  And 
when  asked  what  she  would  have,  she  said,  “ Sherry 
wine.” 

The  barkeeper  poured  it  out ; she  questioned  him 
before  the  men  as  to  what  it  was,  etc.,  and  then  laying 
a ten-cent  piece  on  the  counter  she  took  the  glass  and 
rushed  from  the  room  with  all  possible  speed. 

She  appealed  to  the  men  as  to  whether  they  would 
prosecute  this  case,  and  several  hands  went  up. 

Weekly  meetings  were  decided  upon,  and  the  next 
mass-meeting  was  held  December  24th,  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

On  January  7th,  1874,  a Woman’s  League  was 
formed,  with  the  following  officers  : 

Mother  Stewart,  President;  Vice-Presidents,  ist 
ward,  Mrs.  Wm.  Barnett ; 2d  ward,  Mrs,  Dr,  Tee- 
garden  ; 3d  ward,  Mrs.  Thomas  -I.  Finch ; 4th  ward, 
Mrs.  John  Foos;  5th  ward,  Mrs.  James  Kinney;  Sec- 
retary, Mrs.  J.  A.  S.  Guy ; Treasurer,  Mrs.  James 
Cathcart. 

Springfield  was  a large  town,  larger  than  any  of  the 
towns  where  the  Crusade  had  been  made  successful, 
and  there  was  a general  feeling  that  the  plan  of  saloon 
visiting,  introduced  elsewhere,  could  not  be  carried 
out  in  cities. 

But  the  women,  who  were  following  the  pillar  and 
the  cloud,  on  Tuesday,  January  nth,  commenced  street 
work.  The  first  day  there  were  only  thirty  or  forty 
ladies  in  the  band,  but  the  second  day  the  number 


20 


3o6 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


was  doubled.  The  first  visit  was  to  the  Lauonda 

O 

House  Saloon.  Admission  being  refused,  the  ladies 
held  their  services  before  the  door,  Mrs.  Cosier  mak- 
ing the  first  prayer,  and  Mother  Stewart  addressing 
the  crowds  of  people  gathered  to  see  the  strange 
sight.  The  next  day  they  were  in  the  street  again. 
They  were  admitted  at  the  Lagonda  House,  but  the 
crowd  was  locked  out.  The  prayer-meeting  was 
held  in  the  billiard  room. 

At  the  next  saloon  they  were  not  admitted,  and 
when  Mother  Stewart  attempted  to  talk  to  the  crowd,  the 
saloon-keeper  came  out  and  shrieked,  “Get  away:  get 
away,  every  one  of  you  ; I don’t  want  any  trespassers 
on  my  premises  ; you  shan’t  stand  on  my  steps ! ” 
But  the  people  cried,  “ Go  on  ! go  on  ! ” and  a police- 
man took  the  irate  saloonist  in  charge  and  restored 

O 

order. 

That  evening  Dio  Lewis  spoke  in  Springfield.  The 
Opera  House  was  packed,  and  the  meeting,  which  was 
addressed  by  Van  Pelt,  Dio  Lewis,  and  hlother 
Stewart,  ended  in  a blaze  of  enthusiasm. 

The  next  morning,  at  nine  o’clock,  the  Central 
Methodist  Church  was  crowded  with  ladies.  Dio 
Lewis  and  Van  Pelt  were  present,  and  a still  larger 
number  of  ladies  were  enlisted  for  the  work.  Not 
long  afterwards  Mrs.  James  Kinney  was  chosen  as 
leader  of  the  band.  Hundreds  of  women  engaged  in 
the  work,  and  labored  hard  and  long.  Among  the 
prominent  workers  were  Mrs.  Kinney,  Guy,  Foos, 
Cathcart,  Banes,  and  many  other  noble  women  whose 
names  cannot  be  mentioned,  but  whose  record  is  on 
high. 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


307 


Mother  Stewart  was  called  out  much  into  the  gen- 
eral work,  and  did  efficient  service  during  the  canvass 
against  the  ^^License  Clause','  in  the  new  Constitution, 
which  was  defeated  by  the  efforts  of  the  women  of  the 
Crusade,  and  the  zeal  they  inspired  among  temperance 
men. 

The  State  was  thoroughly  canvassed,  and  the  vic- 
tory won. 

A State  Temperance  Convention  was  held  in  Spring- 
field,  February  24th,  About  one  thousand  delegates 
were  present.  Dio  Lewis  acted  as  temporary  chair- 
man and  organized  the  meeting. 

Mrs.  H.  C.  McCabe,  of  Delaware,  was  elected  per- 
manent president,  a position  she  was  well  calculated  to 
fill,  and  which  she  has  held  ever  since. 

There  was  great  enthusiasm  in  the  convention,  and 
many  of  the  heroic  workers,  who  met  each  other  for 
the  first  time  in  this,  the  first  State  convention  of  wo- 
men, have,  in  the  years  that  have  followed,  worked 
and  planned  for  the  extension  of  the  cause  like  sis- 
ters, with  loving  trust  and  confidence. 

April  3d,  a county  organization  was  formed  in  Clarke 
county. 

The  convention  was  held  at  Springfield,  in  Black’s 
Opera  House.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  women  marched 
from  head-quarters  in  procession  to  the  hall.  Mother 
Stewart  was  elected  President;  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs. 
Bennett  and  Mrs.  Cathcart  for  the  city,  and  one  for 
each  township  outside  of  the  city;  Secretary,  Mrs.  J. 
A.  S.  Guy;  Treasurer,  Capt.  Penny  Stewart. 

This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  county  organiza- 
tion in  the  State. 


3o8 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


On  April  6th  the  spring  election  for  municipal  offi- 
cers took  place.  The  claims  of  temperance  had  been 
pressed,  and  the  ballot-box,  it  had  been  urged,  was  the 
most  effectual  way  to  curtail  the  power  of  alcohol.  The 
election  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  the  city  had  ever 
known.  On  Saturday  evening  previous,  large  mass- 
meetings  of  workingmen  were  addressed  by  Mrs.  M. 
W.  Banes  and  Mother  Stewart;  and  on  election  day 
an  all-day  prayer-meeting  was  held. 

The  temperance  ticket  was  carried  by  a fine  majority. 

The  plan  of  work  soon  after  changed,  the  picket  sys- 
tem being  resorted  to.  The  guards  were  relieved 
every  two  hours.  But  as  there  were,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Crusade,  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  saloons 
scattered  over  a town  of  fifteen  thousand  inhabitants, 
to  station  such  an  army  over  the  town  demanded  a 
heavy  force  and  great  sacrifices.  The  traffic  fell  off 
wonderfully.  Some  saloons  were  closed,  a better  pub- 
lic sentiment  prevailed,  and  a more  faithful  execution  of 
the  laws  against  beer  and  tippling  houses  was  secured. 

The  men  in  this  town  stood  gallantly  by  the  women 
in  their  work.  Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the 
faithful  labors  of  C.  M.  Nichols,  editor  of  the  Spring- 
field  Republic — a fearless  advocate  of  temperance  and 
anti-license;  Dr.  Cloakey,  of  the  U.  P.  Church,  who 
was  always  ready  to  help  the  women  with  prayer  or 
counsel,  or  a speech,  and  who  brought  forth  treasures, 
new  and  old,  from  his  rich  storehouse  of  scripture 
knowledge,  with  marvellous  aptness  and  effect.  Though 
very  aged  and  feeble,  he  seemed  as  enthusiastic  as  in 
the  prime  and  fire  of  youth.  He  has  two  sons  in  the 


CRUSADE  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 


309 


ministry;  both  follow  in  his  footsteps,  and  are  ardent 
temperance  workers.  Rev.  J.  W.  Spring,  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  was  an  earnest,  capable  worker,  and  a 
competent  adviser;  and  Rev.  M.  W.  Hamma,  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  a most  enthusiastic 
worker  and  eloquent  speaker.  Many  of  the  laymen 
did  effective  service,  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
success  of  the  women’s  work  in  Springfield. 

These  pages  are  not  devoted  to  the  workers,  but  to 
the  work  ; and  yet,  when  the  names  of  heroic  workers 
are  known,  they  are  recorded. 

It  seems  eminently  proper  in  this  connection  to 
refer  to  the  services,  abroad,  of  Mother  Stewart,  which 
resulted  in  great  good,  and,  with  the  co-operation  of 
Mrs.  Parker,  the  organization  of  a “British  Woman’s 
Temperance  Union.” 

She  was  met  and  welcomed  at  Liverpool ; and  at 
almost  every  town  she  visited  in  England,  Ireland  and 
Scotland,  grand  receptions  were  given  her,  at  which  the 
dignitaries  of  the  towns  presided  and  made  speeches. 
The  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed,  and  large  audiences 
greeted  her  everywhere.  In  London  an  audience  rose 
to  their  feet  and  waved  their  handkerchiefs  and  cheered 
enthusiastically  when  she  was  introduced  as  “^4  Cru- 
sader T 

Perhaps  the  most  magnificent  reception  given  her 
was  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  the  Queen’s  room,  which 
had  been  most  elegantly  draped  with  white  flounced 
lace  curtains  and  American  flapfs,  and  flaofs  of  various 
nationalities,  looped  up  with  roses  and  ivy ; while  the 
rarest  exotics  ladened  the  air  with  perfume.  Six 


310 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


hundred  of  Glasgow’s  most  prominent  and  respected 
citizens  were  there,  as  a select  company,  to  give 
addresses  of  welcome,  and  partake  with  her  the  sump- 
tuous feast  provided.  Mrs.  Margarete  E.  Parker  was 
very  active  in  securing  for  her  a favorable  hearing. 

Every  American  woman  has  reason  to  be  proud  and 
thankful,  for  the  marked  attention  shown  to  one  of  her 
countrywomen,  but  especially  the  women  who  worked 
in  the  Crusade  ; as  the  respect  and  attention  shown  to 
Mother  Stewart  was  very  largely  due  to  her  connec- 
tion with  that  wonderful  movement,  which  at  the  time 
won  a world-wide  fame,  and  which  future  generations 
will  commend,  and  embalm  in  song  and  story,  as  the 
Woman’s  Crusade. 


NEWARK,  OHIO. 

This  town  contains  about  3,000  inhabitants,  and  is 
situated  at  the  intersection  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio, 
and  Pittsburgh,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  railroads. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Crusade  there  were  in  this 
little  town  fifty  saloons,  or  one  for  every  sixty  of  its 
inhabitants. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  has  occasion  to  remember 
the  miserable  tumble-down  old  building  where  unfor- 
tunate  passengers  were  forced  to  wait  to  make  con- 
nection, and  the  whiskey  saloon,  called  a “ Restaurant,” 
near  by.  One  night  detained  at  this  place  till  mid- 
night, the  drunkenness  and  revelry  and  profanity  were 
positively  alarming. 

The  yelling,  hooting,  wrangling  and  fighting  were 
kept  up  with  little  intermission  till  the  midnight  train. 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


3II 

that  bore  us  away,  came  in.  The  fumes  of  tobacco 
and  whiskey  as  that  crowd  of  men  gathered  at  the 
depot  were  almost  stifling. 

Fifty  or  sixty  men,  in  all  stages  of  intoxication,  reeled 
out  from  their  midnight  orgies  to  see  the  train  come 
in  and  block  the  passage-ways. 

But  early  in  March  the  Crusade  began.  At  first 
there  was  a strong  feeling  against  the  movement. 
Men  were  afraid  their  business  would  be  injured. 
Some  went  so  far  as  to  forbid  their  wives  having  any- 
thing to  do  with  it.  But  it  was  not  Ion  or  till  all  this 
opposition  broke  down,  except  on  the  part  of  dealers. 

The  women  went  to  the  church,  and  there  conse- 
crated themselves  to  God,  and  marched  out  right  past 
their  homes,  right  past  their  husbands’  stores,  and 
banks,  and  offices ; and  as  the  solemn  procession  filed 
into  the  saloons,  singing  gospel  songs,  irate  husbands, 
melted  to  tears,  all  anger,  all  opposition  gone,  stood 
reverently,  with  uncovered  heads.  It  was  not  long  till 
the  railroad  saloons  were  closed  by  the  companies, 
and  those  horrid  dens  of  iniquity  broken  up. 

A correspondent  gives  the  following  : 

“Yesterday  was  the  Ides  of  March  In  whiskey  In 
Newark.  It  Is  as  assuredly  inaugurated  there  as  the 
rebellion  when  the  first  red-hot  ball  leaped  from 
Sumter’s  wall,  and  upon  Its  panoply  is  already  written, 
‘ Mene,  tekel  upharsin.’  The  Fort  Sumter  of  the 
whiskey  war  was  the  first  prayer  proclaimed  from 
woman’s  lips  at  Washington  Court-House  for  the 
Great  Father  above,  who  presides  over  our  destinies, 
to  assist  them  to  abolish  that  which  has  enervated  the 


312 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


mightiest  minds,  and  brought  ruin  and  desolation  to 
many  a hapjDy  and  prosperous  family.  Never  shall 
I forget  the  touching  and  imposing  spectacle  that  burst 
upon  my  view  as  I beheld,  walking  calmly,  solemnly, 
and  deliberately,  over  two  hundred  ladies,  representing 
our  best  society,  enshrined  with  silence  and  beautified 
by  tears.  The  streets  were  crowded  by  thousands 
as  they  moved,  and  many  a head  was  uncovered  as 
the  ladies  passed,  as  if  they  had  a special  power  from 
God. 

“ Soon  they  stopped  before  one  of  our  saloons,  and 
the  ladies  were  received  there,  as  at  other  places,  with 
politeness  and  consideration.  Failing  to  get  the  signa- 
ture of  the  proprietor  to  a petition,  they  knelt  in  fervent 
prayer,  and,  with  eyes  raised  to  heaven,  asked  the 
God  of  love  to  help  them.  There  was  in  the  attitude 
of  those  women,  Avith  eyes  raised  to  heaven,  something 
far  more  powerful  and  touching  than  speech ; for  even 
if  God  had  turned  a deaf  ear  to  their  earnest  entreaties, 
yet  in  that  attitude  they  would  have  been  dignified. 
Men  stood  there,  not  in  ridicule,  that  probably  never 
heard  a fervent  prayer,  with  uncovered  heads  and 
tearful  eyes,  as  if  impressed  that  the  angels  of  heaven 
were  hovering  above  them.  On  several  occasions,  as 
our  ladies  took  some  of  our  saloonists  by  the  hands, 
tears  could  be  seen  streaming  down  the  cheeks  of  both 

o 

men  and  women,  and  as  eyes  met  eyes,  they  dropped 
in  reverence,  as  if  to  conceal  their  thoughts.  Even  a 
laugh  at  such  a time  seemed  to  jar  discordantly  on 
such  enchanting  silence,  for  they  seemed,  in  that 
touching  immobility,  as  if  in  communion  with  God. 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


313 


Laugh,  as  I have,  ye  that  may  read  my  letter,  at  its 
magic  power;  but  when  one  reflects  that  it  is  our 
mothers,  our  sisters,  our  wives,  that  are  praying,  weep- 
ing, beseeching,  and  asking  in  the  name  of  humanity, 
in  the  name  of  God,  to  overcome  an  evil  that  has 
ruined  millions  of  the  human  race,  and  filled  our  jails 
and  prisons,  unless  one  be  destitute  of  feeling,  they 
cannot  look  upon  such  scenes  unmoved.  As  the 
ladies  passed  a house  yesterday,  the  husband  stormed, 
and  the  wife  laughed ; but  no  sooner  had  that  multi- 
tude of  solemn  women  commenced  to  sing, 

“ ‘ Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee,’ 

than  the  husband  burst  into  tears,  and,  throwing  his 
arms  around  his  wife,  he  said,  ‘ My  dear  wife,  I cannot 
resist  that  songf.  I am  now  convinced  that  it  is  the 
power  of  God  that  moves  that  column.  Go  and  join 
them,  and  may  God  bless  you.’  Bulwer  says,  ‘The 
pen  is  mightier  than  the  sword.’  I declare  that  prayer 
uttered  from  woman’s  lips  is  mightier  than  the  law.  I 
hope  that  moderation  and  consistency  may  ever 
accompany  these  movements,  and  nothing  transpire  to 
mar  their  dignity  or  true  nobility.  The  epoch  that 
crowned  this  movement  will  never  be  forgotten.  It  is 
just  in  its  infancy;  it  will  not  only  sweep  over  the 
republic,  but  knock  at  all  the  doors  of  Europe  for 
admission,  and  women  will  at  last,  by  this  movement, 
have  an  epitaph  written  upon  that  which  is  less  perish- 
able than  marble — upon  the  hearts  of  untold  millions 
— by  the  touching  pencil  of  gratitude.  Our  women,  as 
I close,  are  again  on  the  march.  They  have  divided 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


314 

into  squads,  and  their  songs  and  prayers  constantly 
fall  upon  the  ear,  thence  to  be  borne  aloft  upon  the 
invisible  chords,  and  rehearsed  to  the  courts  of  God 
by  the  heavenly  harpists.” 

The  enthusiasm  became  so  great  that  the  church 
was  crowded  every  morning  long  before  the  hour  for 
meeting  had  arrived.  Business  houses  were  closed, 
and  a solemn  silence  pervaded  the  streets. 

A friend  of  mine  visiting-  Newark  during  the  Cru- 
sade,  reached  there  on  the  nine  o’clock  train.  The 
streets  were  empty,  the  doors  of  the  business  houses 
nearly  all  closed. 

She  hastened  to  the  church,  which  she  found 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Pushing  through  the 
group  about  the  door,  she  obtained  a view  of  the 
audience.  A deep  solemnity  pervaded  the  place.  The 
very  air  seemed  surcharged  with  spiritual  influences. 
Many  were  weeping. 

She  kept  her  position  by  the  door  till  the  band  arose 
to  move  out  on  the  street.  A passage-way  was 
cleared  by  a motion  of  a hand,  and  the  ladies  marched 
out  two  and  two,  like  a funeral  procession.  She  fell 
into  the  procession,  and  went  with  them  to  the  saloons, 
and  saw  what  shfe  had  never  seen  before,  a hand-to- 
hand  fight  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  led  on  by 
Christian  women.  The  struggle  was  too  intense  to 
last  long ; but  victory  turned  on  Israel’s  side,  and 
many  saloons  were  closed. 

Visiting  the  town  the  following  autumn,  it  seemed 
transformed. 

No  saloons  about  the  depot;  no  drunken  men  reel- 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


315 


ing  through  the  streets ; but  a degree  of  thrift  and 
good  order  was  visible  on  every  side. 

The  week  before  there  had  been  a county  fair,  and 
liquor  had  flowed  freely  there,  and  many  of  the  weak 
had  fallen  into  the  snare. 

But  the  town  authorities,  if  they  were  not  diligent  in 
punishing  the  men  who  had  sold  to  minors,  and  drunk- 
ards, contrary  to  law,  were  very  prompt  in  arresting 
the  victims,  and  thrusting  them  into  the  jail. 

In  company  with  other  ladies,  I visited  the  jail.  It 
was  a cold,  frosty  morning. 

The  massive  iron  door  closed  behind  us  with  a 
heavy  clank,  and  was  locked.  But  there  was  still  an- 
other wall  of  iron  lattice-work  between  us  and  the 
prisoners,  which  was  opened,  and  we  were  ushered 
into  the  presence  of  the  inmates,  and  the  iron  gate 
locked  behind  us.  The  atmosphere  was  stifling. 
Groups  of  men  and  boys  were  sitting  on  the  stone 
floor,  for  there  were  no  chairs.  They  arose  when  we 
entered.  It  was  a pitiful  sight.  Most  of  them  were 
ragged  and  filthy  and  unkept.  There  was  no  chance 
for  personal  cleanliness,  and  little  for  fresh  air.  No 
books,  papers,  or  anything  to  encourage  thoughts 
of  a better  life,  or  give  comfort.  With  a hearty 
“Good-morning,  brother,”  we  shook  hands  with  each. 
We  told  them  that  we  were  the  friends  of  Jesus,  and 
came  in  His  name  to  tell  them  that  He  loved  them, 
and  wanted  to  be  their  Friend  in  this  the  time  of  their 
need.  As  we  talked,  many  were  moved  to  tears. 

We  sang  “Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me,”  and  knelt  on 
the  cold,  hard,  stone  floor  to  pray.  Some  knelt,  others 


31  6 CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 

crouched  down  on  the  floor,  and  hid  their  faces  in 
their  ragged  sleeves,  and  sobbed  aloud  as  we  told 
God  all  about  their  need  of  Him  as  a Friend  and 
Helper. 

“What  can  you  sing ?”  inquired  one  of  the  ladies. 
“Shall  we  gather  at  the  river?”  several  responded, 
and  most  of  them  joined  in  the  singing.  They  had 
learned  it  in  the  Sunday-school.  Looking  around, 
we  saw  curious  iron  cages  across  the  entire  end  of  the 
room,  and  eyes  glaring  at  us  like  the  eyes  of  animals, 
and  fingers  thrust  through  the  iron  lattice  like  claws. 
Human  beings  thrust  into  these  dark  cells,  with  stone 
walls  on  seven  sides  of  the  room,  and  only  the  iron 
grating  on  one  side  for  light,  and  heat,  and  air.  And 
for  what  crime  ? Drunkenness.  Every  man  and  boy 
in  that  jail,  and  there  were  about  fifteen,  was  there  for 
drunkenness,  but  one.  He  was  there  for  forger}',  and 
he  too  confessed  that  he  drank  freely.  Going  to  one 
after  another  of  these  cages,  unfit  for  animals,  and 
pressing  my  face  against  the  iron  bars,  I could  see 
that  the  rooms  were  about  seven  by  four  or  five  feet. 
More  than  half  of  the  prisoners  were  under  age. 
Where  were  the  saloon-keepers  who  sold  them  liquor 
in  violation  of  law  ? Why  were  they  not  behind  these 
bars  instead  of  these  boys  ? Perhaps  at  that  hour 
they  were  hob-nobbing  with  some  politician  as  to  how 
they  would  carry  the  next  election,  and  break  down 
the  Crusade  and  all  law.  I could  only  thrust  two  of 
my  fingers  through  the  grating  in  an  attempt  to  shake 
hands,  as  I said,  “ Good-morning,  brother.” 

Immediately  the  fingers  were  clasped  by  the  hand 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK.  317 

of  the  inmate,  and  the  sad  eyes  lighted  up  with  a look 
of  welcome. 

“ You  are  very  young  to  be  here,”  I said  to  one,  a 
mere  boy,  who  held  on  to  my  finger  tips,  while  his  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  “ Have  you  a mother?  ” 

“ No.  She  died  when  I was  a baby.” 

Oh,  what  a story  of  neglect  and  heart  hunger  and 
temptation  that  little  sentence  told. 

“ Have  you  a father?  ” 

“No,  Leastwise  I dun  no’  if  he’s  alive.  He  never 
paid  no  attention  to  me.  He  never  cared  for  nothing 
but  whiskey.” 

“ I hope  you  don’t  drink.” 

“ I take  a spree  sometimes.  I took  too  much  at  the 
fair,  that’s  the  reason  I am  caged.” 

I talked  to  him  kindly  and  lovingly ; the  tears  ran 
down  my  face,  till  the  iron  bars  were  wet,  while  he 
sobbed  as  though  his  heart  would  break,  and  the  dear 
women  about  me  were  all  in  tears,  and  many  of  the 
men  were  weeping,  when  we  knelt  there  to  pray  in 
his  behalf,  that  the  All-pitiful  Father  would  look  on 
this  orphan  boy  with  compassion,  and  pleaded  for  His 
mercy  upon  them  all. 

When  we  bade  him  farewell  he  sobbed  out,  “I’ll 
never  drink  any  more.” 

Oh,  that  God  would  hasten  the  time  when  liquor- 
dealers  will  be  put  behind  iron  bars  for  selling  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  instead  of  boys  for  drinking  them. 


CRUSADE  AT  URBANA. 


318 

URBANA,  OHIO. 

The  facts  that  make  up  this  report  are  gleaned 
mainly  from  a Tempera7ice  exti'a  published  daily,  fur- 
nished me  by  the  Society. 

The  Crusade  wave  reached  this  place  March  9th, 
and  found  the  Christian  women  ready  to  obey  the 
Master’s  word,  “Go  ye  also  into  my  vineyard  and 
labor.”  They  too  had,  with  feelings  of  grief  and 
terror,  seen  the  ominous  cloud  of  intemperance 
settling  down  over  the  fair  cities  and  happy  homes  of 
our  land,  and  had  called  aloud  upon  the  Lord  for  de- 
liverance, and  he  had  heard  them. 

In  response  to  notices  given  in  the  different 
churches  of  the  city,  a large  meeting  of  the  women 
was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  three  o’clock 
p.  M.,  March  9th,  1874.  After  singing  and  prayer,  they 
organized  with  the  following  officers:  President,  Mrs. 
G.  W.  Hitt;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  M.  G.  Williams; 
Secretary,  Mrs.  T.  D.  Crow;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  James 
Anderson.  They  felt  that  the  time  for  work  had 
come,  and  from  mansion  and  cottage  alike,  they  went 
forth,  with  faith  and  courage,  strong  to  accomplish 
the  work  assigned  them  in  that  part-  of  the  Lord’s 
heritage,  and  in  His  name  to  “rescue  the  perishing.” 
Their  hearts-  were  aflame  with  the  love  of  Jesus, 
and  they  were  yearning  for  the  opportunity  to  “tell 
to  sinners  round,  what  a dear  Saviour  they  had 
found.”  And  for  more  than  three  months  they  la- 
bored daily,  from  foic7'  and  five  o'clock  in  the  morning 
until  nine  o’clock  at  night. 

Thursday,  March  12th,  w^as  the  first  day  that  saw 


CRUSADE  AT  URBANA. 


319 


the  Crusaders  upon  the  streets  of  Urbana.  A day 
long  to  be  remembered  by  those  who  went  forth, 
the  willing  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  for 
the  accomplishment  of  His  work;  and  there  were  not 
wanting  those  who,  in  fear  and  trembling,  bid  them. 
“God  speed.” 

The  ladies  met,  that  morning,  in  the  First  M.  E, 
Church.  Mrs.  Jennings  read  the  Scriptures;  and  after 
singing  that  grand  old  hymn,  “All  hail  the  power  of 
Jesus’  name,”  Mrs.  Patrick  prayed  a short,  earnest 
prayer.  After  the  singing  of  another  hymn,  Mrs.  Hitt 
gave  the  word  to  go  forth.  It  was  a solemn  moment; 
and  as  they  followed  Mrs.  Kimber  and  Mrs.  Shyrigh, 
ladies  who  led  them  that  day,  their  hearts  were  lifted 
up  to  God  for  guidance  and  wisdom. 

Out  into  the  bitter  blasts  of  a strong  east  wind  they 
went,  their  hearts  warm  with  the  love  of  the  sinner’s 
Friend.  Old  women,  with  bent  forms  and  silvery  hair, 
walked  with  feeble  steps.  Young  women,  radiant 
with  beauty,  purified  by  Christian  faith  and  love, 
moved  along  with  light  and  eager  step. 

The  first  place  visited  was  the  Weaver  House 
saloon.  The  saloon-keeper  had  been  warned  of  their 
approach,  so  the  ladies  found  themselves  barred  out. 
But  they  went  on  with  their  singing  and  prayers; 
kneeling  down  upon  the  cold  hard  stones  of  the  pave- 
ment, determined  to  do  their  duty,  notwithstanding 
the  winter  blasts  and  hard  hearts  of  the  men.  As  the 
sweet  notes  of  “ I need  Thee  every  hour,”  floated  out 
upon  the  wintry  winds,  a crowd  began  to  gather  to 
witness  this  strange  sight;  men  who  believed  their 


320 


CRUSADE  AT  URBANA. 


work  was  God-given,  gathered  close  around,  tr^nng  to 
shield  them  from  the  wind. 

The  next  place  visited  was  Henry  Fulwiler’s  beer 
saloon,  on  South  Main  street.  This  place  was  also 
closed  agg,inst  them.  From  his  warm  quarters  this 
man  heard  all  the  loving,  tender  petitions,  that  went 
up  to  God  for  him,  but  was  unmoved.  IMiss  Saddie 
Thompson,  Miss  Belle  Stayman,  and  Miss  Emma  Long 
stood  in  the  doorway  and  sang,  “Jesus,  Lover  of  my 
soul after  which  Mrs.  Jennings  read  the  sixth  chap- 
ter of  Ephesians,  and  Mrs.  Hitt  prayed.  A crowd 
had  followed  them,  which  grew  larger  every  moment, 
until  the  streets  were  filled;  and  from  every  window, 
and  from  the  house-tops,  the  people  gazed  upon  this 
earnest  band  of  godly  women,  praying  for  the  souls 
of  men  who  had  never  prayed  for  themselves.  While 
they  were  praying,  three  men,  who  were  in  the  saloon, 
raised  their  glasses  of  poison  and  drank  confusion  to 
the  souls  of  the  ladies.  No  violence  was  offered  them 
by  the  crowd. 

From  this  place  the  Crusaders  proceeded  to  Samuel 
Wheritt’s  saloon.  This  place  was  closed,  also.  A 
man  named  Joe  Pence  came  along,  and  made  a dis- 
turbance, and  demanded  that  the  pavement  be  cleared. 
He  was  so  disrespectful  towards  the  ladies  that  he  was 
marched  off  to  the  calaboose.  The  ladies,  to  avoid 
any  more  trouble  on  this  account,  divided  into  two 
lines,  one  close  up  to  the  house,  the  other  on  the  curb- 
stone, and  so  continued  their  meeting.  This  was  the 
last  place  visited  that  day.  The  ladies  returned  to  the 
church,  where  a large  company  was  waiting  for  them, 
and  received  their  account  of  their  work  with  joy. 


CRUSADE  AT  URBANA. 


321 


The  ladies  concluded  to  divide  up  into  several  small 
bands,  and  follow  each  other.  Band  No.  i was  led  by 
Mrs.  J.  M.  Boul ; No.  2 by  Mrs.  Dr.  Goddard;  No.  3 
by  Mrs.  West;  No.  4 by  Mrs.  J.  G.  Hedges.  These 
bands  numbered  about  thirty  each,  and  were  led  by 
elderly  ladies,  and  each  numbering  among  its  members 
some  of  the  younger  ladies  to  lead  in  the  singing. 
The  bands  left  the  church  about  twenty  minutes  apart, 
and  followed  each  other,  so  that  about  the  time  one 
band  was  leaving;  a saloon  another  would  be  in  sigfht. 
And  so  they  kept  the  enemy  within  his  stronghold,  in 
rather  bad  humor,  it  is  feared. 

A laughable  incident  occurred  one  day,  at  Owen 
Coughlin’s.  This  man  has  a saloon  and  a bakery  ad- 
joining. He  did  not  understand  their  management  of 
forces,  and  one  day  he  watched  the  first  and  second 
bands  come  and  depart,  and  looked  upon  the  arrival 
of  the  third  band.  In  the  meantime,  band  number  four 
had  come  up  and  joined  its  head  on  to  the  rear  of  num- 
ber three.  As  the  third  moved  off,  Coughlin  came  to 
his  door,  and,  looking  up  and  down  and  seeing  no  more 
advancing,  thought  he  would  now  have  a respite,  and 
stepped  out,  with  an  air  of  relief,  upon  the  pavement. 
But  when  the  head  of  column  four  reached  his  door,  it 
halted  and  began  a hymn.  A look  of  mingled  astonish- 
ment and  despair  came  over  his  countenance,  as  he 
turned  and  entered  his  door  again.  We  should  think 
he  would  conclude  that  baking  was  his  best  chance  for 
a living. 

The  saloon  of  Mrs.  Breslin  was  visited,  and  when 
the  band  entered  they  beheld  the  whole  family  stand- 


322 


CRUSADE  AT  URBANA. 


’ ing  in  the  background,  dumb  with  amazement  and  ter- 
ror. Mrs.  B.  informed  the  ladies  that  if  there  was  any 
legitimate  business  by  which  she  could  earn  a living  for 
herself  and  twelve  children,  she  would  quit  liquor-sell- 
ing. She  stated  that  she  had  worked  out ; but,  one  day, 
upon  coming  home,  she  found  that  the  children  had  set 
fire  to  the  house.  So  she  began  business  in  her  own 
house. 

After  the  work  had  been  in  progress  some  two 
weeks,  Mrs.  Hitt  called  for  volunteers  to  go  on  picket- 
duty  at  the  doors  of  the  saloons.  Women,  young  and 
old,  willingly  offered  themselves  for  this  very  trjdng 
duty.  Promptly  each  day  these  soldiers  of  .the  cross 
took  up  their  positions,  and  held  them  in  spite  of  wind 
and  weather.  Groups  of  citizens  would  gather  round 
the  pickets  when  they  were  on  duty.  Men.  brought 
chairs  and  seated  the  ladies  who  were  shut  out  of  the 
saloons.  Robes  were  provided  to  throw  over  them 
while  they  quietly  noted  down  the  names  of  those  who 
had  the  hardihood  to  enter  in  their  presence.  One 
night,  when  it  was  extremely  disagreeable,  and  the 
picket  outside  of  Murphy’s  had  remained  to  a late 
hour,  that  gallant  Irishman  could  not  stand  against 
such  devotion  any  longer,  and  coming  out  said;  “Now, 
ladies,  if  you  will  go  home,  I will  lock  up,  and  will  not 
open  again  to-night.”  And  so,  believing  him  sincere, 
the  guard  departed. 

Mass-meetings  were  held  every  week,  which  were 
well  attended,  and  full  of  interest;  and  such  an  enthu- 
siasm was  aroused  in  the  cause  of  temperance  - as 
never  was  known  in  the  history  of  Urbana.  As  evi- 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON. 


323 


den.ce  of  interest  awakened,  an  ordinance,  prohibiting 
ale,  beer,  and  porter  houses,  was  passed  by  the  city 
council,  and  a public  sentiment  was  aroused  which  sus- 
tained the  enforcement  of  the  ordinance  in  several 
notable  instances. 

When  the  warm  weather  came,  it  was  thought  best 
to  have  the  bands  go  out  in  the  morning  at  five  o’clock, 
and  in  the  evening  at  seven,  remaining  out  for  one 
hour  each  time,  and  visiting  as  many  saloons  as  possi- 
ble in  that  time. 

The  ladies  of  the  League  addressed  political  meet- 
ings all  over  the  country,  which  doubtless  contributed 
largely  to  the  defeat  of  the  license  clause  in  the  county. 

There  were  twenty-seven  liquor-dealers  in  Urbana 
when  the  Crusade  began.  At  the  time  for  renewing 
their  license  only  five  presented  themselves.  Some 
who  promised  to  quit  selling  are  faithful  to  their 
promises. 

DAYTON,  OHIO. 

Dayton  is  a beautiful,  well-built  town,  in  central 
Ohio.  Its  streets  and  avenues  are  broad  and  well- 
paved.  It  has  handsome  residences,  fine  churches, 
substantial  public  buildings,  and  massive  business 
houses.  But  many  of  its  palaces  are  red  with  the 
blood  of  murdered  innocence,  and  many  of  its  massive 
edifices  have  been  built  with  the  price  of  souls.  For 
liquor-making  and  liquor-selling  has  been  no  inconsid- 
erable part  of  the  business  of  the  place.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Crusade  there  were  not  only  the  usual 
array  of  saloons,  artd  gambling-dens,  and  brothels, 
where  liquors  were  sold  and  drank,  but  there  were 


324 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON. 


massive  breweries,  and  great  wholesale  houses,  that  by 
their  influence  and  money  sustained  the  traffic;  and 
the  business  was  largely  in  the  hands  of  a rough  class 
of  foreigners,  mainly  Germans.  This  class,  in  the 
towns  already  reached  by  the  Crusade,  had  been  in- 
sulting and  riotous. 

Against  all  this  array  of  evil — this  wickedness  in 
high  places — a few  women  were  praying  and  crying  to 
God.  Encouraged  by  the  success  of  the  Crusade  work 
at  Hillsboro’  and  Washington  Court  House,  and  other 
towns,  they  set  themselves  to  walk  carefully  before 
the  Lord,  and  to  know  His  will. 

Dayton  had  a population  of  about  forty  thousand. 
At  the  beffinninof  of  the  Crusade  there  were  in  this 
town  over  five  hundred  saloons,  or  one  to  every  sixty 
of  its  inhabitants;  or,  divided  into  families  of  five  each, 
one  saloon  to  every  twelve  families. 

Large  and  enthusiastic  mass-meetings  were  held ; but 
it  required  more  than  ordinary  courage  to  go  out  into 
the  saloons,  and  face  liquor-dealers  in  their  own  dens, 
and  meet  the  class  that  congregated  in  these  places, 
many  of  them  speaking  a strange  tongue.  But  there 
were  not  wanting  women  in  Dayton,  pure,  consecrated, 
Christian  women,  who  were  ready  to  take  their  lives  in 
their  hands,  and  go  forth  in  God’s  name,  and  speak 
and  pray  in  the  saloons,  and  on  the  streets. 

A permanent  organization  was  effected  Lebruaiq^ 
20th,  and  a private  canvass  of  the  saloons  made  by 
small  companies  of  ladies,  but  no  results  followed. 
Mass-meetings  were  held  daily ; two  hundred  women 
were  enlisted  for  active  aggressive  work,  and  on  the 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON. 


325 


morning  of  the  6th  of  March,  two  companies,  led  by 
Mrs.  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Weakley,  filed  slowly  and 
solemnly  out  of  the  church,  to  visit  the  saloons.  The 
rain  was  falling  steadily,  but  the  women  were  shel- 
tered underwater-proofs  and  umbrellas.  The  saloon- 
doors  were  closed  against  them. 

T.  A.  H.  Brown,  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati 
Gazette,  in  “Fifty  Years’  History  of  the  Temperance 
Cause,”  gives  the  following : 

“ Saloon  after  saloon  was  visited,  services  generally 
being  held  before  the  doors  ; and  at  last  one  man,  who 
had  a light  stock  of  liquors,  offered  to  surrender  if 
they  would  pay  him  first  cost.  The  vile  compounds 
were  then  emptied  into  the  gutter,  amid  much  rejoic- 
ing. In  the  afternoon  the  two  bands  exchanged  ter- 
ritory, so  that  the  same  saloons  received  two  visits. 

“ The  excitement  now  beoan  to  increase.  The 
bands  increased  in  numbers,  and  more  favorable 
weather  brought  out  great  crowds  of  people  to  wit- 
ness the  strange  spectacle  of  women  actually  praying 
on  the  streets.  The  rabble  began  to  grow  turbulent 
and  threatening ; saloon-keepers  saw  the  matter  was 
putting  on  a serious  aspect,  and  fought  every  inch  of 
ground  by  the  most  unscrupulous  means.  It  soon 
came  to  be  known  that  the  visit  of  the  ladies  to  a 
saloon  meant  free  beer  and  whiskey  at  that  place,  and 
there  ‘ the  boys  ’ rallied  in  force  like  vultures  over  a 
dead  carcass.  The  result  was,  more  drunken  men  on 
the  streets  than  had  been  seen  since  the  4th  of  July; 
and  as  if  this  round-about  warfare  was  not  sufficient, 
direct  insults  were  heaped  upon  the  ladies.  The  voice 


326 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON. 


of  prayer  and  song  were  drowned  by  those  of  ribaldry 
and  blasphemy.  Bits  of  bologna  and  crackers  were 
thrown  at  the  kneeling  women,  who  bore  these  indig- 
nities meekly,  with  no  word  of  reproof.  One  of  the 
worst  elements  in  the  noisy  mobs  was  women,  mostly 
of  foreign  nationalities,  who  joined  their  screaming  to 
the  shouting  and  swearing  of  their  male  relatives. 

“The  result  of  this  unseemly  mocking  and  jeering 
was  to  inflame  the  public  mind,  and  bring  thousands 
out  to  the  evening  mass-meetings,  where  the  reports 
of  the  day’s  proceedings  were  read,  and  commented 
upon. 

“Under  such  dire  persecutions,  the  band  steadily 
increased  in  size,  and  grew  more  determined.” 

Another  correspondent  says : 

“ The  women  form  for  action  near  the  curbstone, 
and  are  speedily  encompassed  by  the  crowd,  who 
watch  with  varying  manifestations  and  emotions. 
Lines  of  men  file  into  the  bars  to  quench  real  or 
affected  thirst,  and  the  clink  of  foaming  glasses  chimes 
in  with  the  soft,  pathetic  notes  of  the  worshipping 
women.  But  the  plaintive  voice  of  prayer,  when  the 
women  on  bended  knees  supplicate  the  mercy  of  God, 
produces  an  instant  and  indescribable  hush  even  in 
the  bar-rooms ; and  as  the  eloquent  pleadings  ascend, 
the  influence  quickly  strikes  the  nearest  rank  of  spec- 
tators, and  penetrates  to  the  outermost  rim  of  the 
rag-ofed  semicircle  formed  about  them.  There  are 
moments,  when  the  women  weep  and  pray,  that  their 
influence  is  thrillingly  impressive,  and  men  even,  who 
do  not  approve  of  the  saloon  devotions,  are  uncon- 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON, 


327 


sciously  but  irresistibly  affected.  Excepting  among 
the  depraved,  there  is  not  the  remotest  suggestion  of 
levity  in  the  scene.  It  is  touchingly  solemn,” 

Becker,  one  of  the  saloon-keepers,  admitted  the 
ladies ; but  insisted  that  none  should  pray  in  his 
saloon  unless  they  were  without  sin. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  the  municipal  election  was  held, 
and  by  the  help  of  the  dealers,  and  bummers,  Butz,  the 
whiskey  candidate,  was  elected  over  Houk,  the  temper- 
ance candidate;  and  a majority  of  councilmen  elected 
were  in  favor  of  whiskey.  This  was  taken  by  the 
saloon-keepers  as  a verdict  for  free  whiskey. 

Undeterred  by  the  results  of  the  election,  the  women 
met  at  Grace  M.  E.  Church,  determined  to  go  on  with 
their  work.  But  they  were  met  with  the  following 
proclamation  from  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners: 

Whereas,  It  has  become  apparent  to  this  board,  that 
the  visits  of  the  recently  organized  bands  of  ladies  to 
the  various  saloons  in  the  city,  and  the  occupation  by 
them  of  the  sidewalks  and  streets  for  religious  exer- 

O 

cises,  have,  on  several  occasions,  attracted  large  crowds 
of  riotous  and  disorderly  persons,  who  assembled  in 
the  vicinity  in  such  numbers  as  seriously  to  threaten 
the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  city,  and  materially 
to  obstruct  the  free  and  proper  use  of  both  the  side- 
walks and  the  streets ; and. 

Whereas,  It  is,  by  the  laws  of  this  State,  unlawful  for 
any  person  or  persons,  by  agent  or  otherwise, 

I.  To  sell,  in  any  quantity,  intoxicating  liquors  (ex- 
cept wine  manufactured  of  the  pure  juice  of  the  grape, 
cultivated  in  this  State,  beer,  ale,  or  cider),  to  be  drank 


328 


CRUSADE  AT  DAYTON. 


in  or  upon  the  premises  where  sold,  or  in  or  upon  any 
adjoining  premises  connected  therewith  ; 

2.  To  sell  any  intoxicating  liquors  whatever,  without 
exception,  to  minors,  unless  upon  the  written  order  of 
their  parents,  guardians,  or  family  physician  ; 

3.  To  sell  intoxicating  liquors,  of  any  kind  whatever, 
to  persons  intoxicated,  or  in  the  habit  of  getting  intoxi- 
cated; and. 

Whereas,  All  places  where  liquors  are  sold  in  viola- 
tion of  these  laws  are  declared  public  nuisances,  and 
upon  conviction  of  the  keeper  thereof,  are  required  to 
be  shut  up  and  abated  as  such ; therefore. 

Be  it  known,  that  orders  have  been  issued  to  the 
police  force  of  this  city  to  prevent  the  use  and  occupa- 
tion of  the  streets  and  sidewalks  as  aforesaid,  and  to 
give  special  and  careful  attention  to  the  enforcement 
of  the  said  laws,  and  make  prompt  arrest  of  any  and 
all  persons  violating  the  same. 

By  order  of  the  Police  Board. 

Wm.  H.  Sigman, 

Mayor  and  ex-officio  Presidetit  Police  Board. 

After  consultation  it  was  decided  best  not  to  go  into 
saloons  in  large  bands,  and  thereafter  saloon  visiting 
was  carried  on  by  bands  of  three  or  four.  Wherever 
they  were  admitted,  they  conversed  with  the  proprietors 
and  their  guests.  The  saloon-keepers  were  generally 
averse  to  these  visits,  and  insisted  that  the  election  had 
settled  the  question,  and  the  people  had  indorsed  their 
business  at  the  polls.  But  the  ladies  were  not  deterred, 
but  pushed  their  work  in  every  possible  direction. 


CRUSADE  AT  PIQUA. 


329 


Women’s  meetings  were  held  daily  for  prayer  and  con- 
sultation, followed  by  mass-meetings  at  night.  Enthu- 
siastic meetings  for  children  were  held,  and  the  better 
class  of  people  were  thoroughly  aroused.  The  men 
began  to  bestir  themselves,  and  a guarantee  fund  was 
raised  for  the  enforcement  of  the  law. 

And  so  the  women  go  on  with  their  work  against 
fearful  odds,  assured  that  victory  in  due  time  will 
crown  their  efforts. 


PIQUA,  OHIO. 

The  work  at  Piqua  commenced  early  in  the  Crusade, 
and  was  carried  on  with  great  enthusiasm  and  deter- 
mination. As  the  women  knelt  in  front  of  saloons  on 
the  sidewalk,  the  mighty  power  of  the  Spirit  was  dis- 
played. 

Mrs.  Stephenson  was  chosen  as  the  leader.  The 
ladies  held  a meeting,  and  by  ten  o’clock  of  the  same 
day  they  were  out  on  the  streets.  They  seemed  to  be 
urged  on  by  an  invisible  power  to  the  work  for  which 
they  had  consecrated  themselves. 

The  first  day  three  of  the  druggists  signed  the 
pledge.  There  was  much  to  contend  with  in  Piqua;  a 
large  German  population ; heavy  wholesale  liquor 
houses,  and  wealthy  men  who  rented  their  property  to 
liquor-dealers.  The  opposition  was  violent,  the  crowds 
in  the  saloons  disorderly ; men  mocked,  while  women 
prayed.  But  insult  and  opposition  tended  to  increase 
their  zeal,  and  greatly  augmented  their  numbers. 

Their  way  of  conducting  these  visitations  was  to  go 
to  the  door  of  a saloon,  and  ask  if  they  could  come  in. 


330 


CRUSADE  AT  CIRCLEVILLE. 


If  they  were  answered  in  the  affirmative,  they  went  in 
and  held  a prayer-meeting.  If  they  were  refused  ad- 
mittance, they  held  their  meeting  on  the  sidewalk  in 
front  of  the  saloon.  The  ladies  found  that,  although 
the  saloons  were  closed  against  them,  their  prayers 
could  penetrate  the  doors.  Many  saloon-keepers  gave 
up  the  business,  others  became  violent  and  insulting, 
and  offered  indignities  to  the  ladies.  In  one  saloon  a 
mock  prayer-meeting  was  held  and  the  Lord’s  Supper 
celebrated  with  beer  and  crackers  by  saloon-keepers 
and  their  drunken  customers. 

It  may  be  proper  in  this  connection  to  state,  that  the 
men  who  were  engaged  in  this  mock  seriace  have 
nearly  all. died  violent  and  awful  deaths. 

The  ladies  were  arrested,  and  held  to  trial  for  pray- 
ing on  the  streets.  But  their  trial  was  postponed,  and 
the  better  class  of  citizens,  who  were  now  thoroughly 
aroused,  petitioned  the  council  for  a prohibitory  ordi-' 
nance,  and  before  the  day  of  trial  came  on  a prohibitory 
ordinance  was  passed,  which  effectually  broke  down 
the  opposition. 

The  ladies,  very  much  encouraged,  went  on  with  the 
battle,  and  still  continued  the  contest  in  a more  per- 
manent and  quiet  form  of  organization. 

CIRCLEVILLE,  OHIO. 

In  justice  to  a few  faithful  workers,  Circleville  de- 
serves mention. 

I am  indebted  to  Lizzie  W.  Scovile,  Secretar}^,  for 
the  following  facts  : 

We  have  nothing  thrilling  to  relate,  and  cannot 

O O ’ 


CRUSADE  AT  CIRCLEVILLE. 


331 


point  to  such  marked  results  as  some  are  able  to  do. 
The  Crusade  was  entered  upon  very  reluctantly,  in 
this  place.  Daily  meetings  for  prayer  had  been  held 
in  the  church  nearly  two.  weeks  previously,  but  on  the 
1 8th  day  of  March,  1874,  the  Spirit  descended  in 
power,  and  the  women  went  forth  to  visit  the  saloons'. 
x\ll  through  the  summer  the  work  was  prosecuted  in 
various  forms,  visiting  saloons  in  bands,  picket  work, 
daily  prayer-meetings  at  our  League  Room,  open-air 
meetino-s,  etc.  Several  saloons  were  closed,  but,  with 
only  two  or  three  exceptions,  were  again  reopened. 

We  can  point  with  certainty  to  but  one  conversion, 
and  that  was  of  one  of  our  ladies,  who,  though  not  a 
Christian,  went  with  the  band  to  help  sing,  and  was 
converted  in  one  of  the  saloons  during  one  of  our  first 
visits. 

When  the  street  work  was  first  entered  upon,  our 
numbers  were  so  large  it  was  thought  best  to  form 
two  bands — one  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  S.  H. 
McMullin,  wife  of  the  minister  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  the  other  under  Mrs.  Dr.  Ray,  a good 
old  mother  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 

A Presbyterian  gentleman,  noticing  that  a number 
of  ladies  of  his  denomination  had  been  assigned  to 
Mrs.  Ray’s  band,  said  to  her,  “You  will  have  to  fur- 
nish our  ladies  with  prayer  books.” 

Many  went  out,  thinking  they  could  do  nothing  but 
uphold  the  hands  of  others,  but  the  spirit  of  prayer 
descended,  and  prayer  books  were  not  needed : the 
dumb  spake. 

Numbers  of  these  ladies  had  never  prayed  in  pub- 


332  CRUSADE  AT  MADISONVILLE  AND  DELAWARE. 

lie,  until  they  offered  prayer  in  saloons,  or  upon  the 
street.  Now,  at  the  end  of  three  and  a half  years, 
although  the  numbers  have  fallen  off,  there  still  re- 
mains enough  of  the  faithful  to  sustain  the  prayer- 
meetings,  generally  two  each  week,  and  prosecute 
other  branches  of  work.  As  to  results,  we  can  point 
to  the  brotherly  love  which  has  grown  out  of  this 
union  work : the  churches  of  different  denominations 
are  united,  as  never  before,  and  woman’s  prayer- 
meetings  and  missionary  societies  have  received  fresh 
inspiration  from  the  Crusade. 

MADISONVILLE,  OHIO. 

The  work  commenced  in  this  town  on  the  19th  of 
February,  but  the  Crusaders  met  with  an  obstinate 
resistance,  especially  from  the  German  dealers.  One 
of  them,  Hendel,  told  the  ladies,  “he  would  not  quit 
selling  whiskey  till  hell  froze  over.”  Other  saloon- 
keepers deluged  their  sidewalks  with  water,  and  they 
were  soon  a glare  of  ice,  but  women  living  near  tore 
up  their  carpets  and  brought  them  for  the  use  of  the 
Christian  workers,  and  the  songs  and  prayer  and  work 
went  on  in  spite  of  all  opposition. 

DELAWARE,  OHIO. 

Delaware,  the  Athens  of  Ohio,  only  a few  miles 
from  Columbus,  has  a population  of  about  six  thousand 
inhabitants.  The  moral  sentiment  of  the  town  was 
opposed  to  the  liquor  traffic,  and  yet  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Crusade  twenty- three  saloons  went  on  with 
their  deadly  work,  day  and  night. 


CRUSADE  AT  DELAWARE. 


333 


Dio  Lewis  was  invited  to  lecture  for  the  Chi  Phi 
Society  of  Wesleyan  University.  A large  audience 
assembled  to  hear  him,  and  at  the  close  of  the  lecture, 
he  pressed  upon  them  the  importance  of  the  temper- 
ance cause,  and  pledged  the  women  to  the  Crusade 
work.  The  women  held  a meetino;  at  William  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  the  next  day,  and  a per- 
manent organization  was  effected,  with  Mrs.  A.  S. 
Clason  as  President,  and  Mrs.  Bishop  Thompson  as 
Secretary.  All  classes  came  forward  to  engage  in  the 
work.  The  pledge  was  freely  circulated.  Nearly  a 
hundred  young  men  of  the  Wesleyan  University  re- 
fusing to  sign  the  pledge,  great  excitement  and  indig- 
nation followed.  The  young  ladies  of  the  town  were 
so  aroused,  in  view  of  this,  that  they  formed  a league, 
pledging  themselves  not  to  associate  with  any  young 
man  who  had  not  signed  the  pledge.  The  young  men, 
who  had  not  counted  on  this,  were  speedily  brought 
to  terms,  and  most  of  them  signed  the  pledge. 

The  saloon-keepers  tried  to  compromise  with  the 
women,  offering  to  sell  nothing  but  beer,  if  the  women 
would  withdraw  from  the  work.  This  the  women  re- 
fused to  do,  and  the  good  work  went  on.  Saloon 
after  saloon  surrendered,  and  the  women  were  in  a 
fair  way  to  close  all  the  saloons  by  prayer,  when  the 
men  came  forward  on  election  day,  and  elected  the 
entire  temperance  ticket.  The  greatest  enthusiasm 
prevailed.  All  the  bells  of  the  town  were  rung, 
cannons  were  fired,  and  a praise-meeting  held  in 
the  Opera  House,  which  was  crowded  to  its  utmost 
capacity. 


334 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 


The  next  day  the  women  were  on  the  street,  as 
usual,  determined  to  continue  their  work  until  ever)" 
saloon  was  closed. 

This  town  is  the  home  of  Mrs.  H.  C.  McCabe,  the 
able  and  efficient  President  of  the  State  Union. 

PORTSMOUTH,  OHIO. 

Portsmouth  is  a beautiful  town  on  the  Ohio  river, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto.  It  was  one  of  the  first 
points  of  settlement  in  the  State,  and  from  the  day  the 
first  shanty  was  built,  whiskey  had  flowed  freely,  with- 
out a protest,  until  the  Woman’s  Crusade. 

Men  came  with  their  jugs  and  bottles  weekly  from 
the  rich  valley  of  the  Scioto,  and  from  the  farming 
districts  up  and  down  the  Ohio  river,  to  get  them  filled 
with  intoxicating  liquors.  And  it  was  not  uncommon 
for  them  to  drive  out  of  town  too  drunk  to  manaore 
their  horses. 

Distilleries  were  built,  and  the  products  of  the 
immense  corn-fields  of  the  valley  of  the  Scioto,  one  of 
the  richest  valleys  in  the  world,  instead  of  being  turned 
into  bread,  were  sent  to  the  distillery,  and  turned  into 
the  waters  of  death ; and  while  the  people  grew  poor, 
and  the  town  began  to  put  on  a dilapidated  appearance, 
the  distillers  and  the  liquor-dealers  grew  rich,  built 
themselves  fine  houses,  and  became  the  nabobs  of  the 
town. 

The  people  had  groaned  under  the  heavy  burdens 
of  the  liquor  traffic — crime  and  pauperism  ; and  women 
with  tears  and  prayers  had  cried  unto  God  for  deliver- 
ance, but  all  in  vain.  Despair  had  settled  down  on 
almost  every  true  heart. 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 


335- 


The  tidings  of  the  Crusade  inspired  them  with  fresh 
hope,  and  the  women,  after  meetings  for  prayer  and 
consecration,  went  out  from  the  church  into  the  saloons. 
They  met  with  great  opposition  on  the  part  of  saloon- 
keepers and  their  customers,  and  the  business  men  of 
the  city  refrained  from  taking  any  active  part  in  the 
temperance  work,  for  fear  of  losing  trade  and  influence 
with  the  liquor  party.  The  ladies,  however,  went  on 
with  unabated  zeal  in  their  work  until  the  6th  of  April, 
when  the  whiskey  candidates  were  elected  by  an 
average  majority  of  only  forty-five,  which  the  temper- 
ance men  might  have  overcome  if  they  had  sustained 
the  women  in  the  work.  Weaver,  a colored  barber  at 
the  Bazaar  Hotel,  was  elected  as  a member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  the  colored  folks  all  voting  for  the 
whiskey  candidates. 

The  ladies,  undeterred  by  the  liquor  vote,  were  out 
on  the  street  the  next  day,  in  larger  numbers  than  ever. 
John  Price,  a saloon-keeper,  whom  they  had  visited, 
and  prayed  with  frequently,  but  who  claimed  to  sell 
only  according  to  law,  was  soon  after  indicted  for 
illegal  selling,  and  tried  before  Hon.  Judge  Harper, 
and  fined  seventy-five  dollars,  put  under  bond  for  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  sent  to  jail  for  thirty  days.  The 
severe  penalty  inflicted  on  Price  by  Judge  Harper  put 
a check  upon  the  illegal  traffic. 

A correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  ten  days 
after  the  election,  gives  the  following  report  of  the 
work  there : 

“The  interest  in  the  work  here  has  greatly  increased 
since  the  city  election.  The  determination  on  the  part 


336  CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 

of  the  temperance  people  to  put  down  the  traffic  in 
our  city  is  stronger  to-day  than  it  has  been  since  the 
work  began.  The  street  work  commenced  Monday, 
March  1 6th.  Since  then  the  Ladies’  Leagfue  have 
held  over  ninety  street  prayer-meetings  each  week,  or 
nearly  four  hundred  and  fifty  since  the  work  began. 
Our  success  has  not  been  as  great  as  we  had  hoped 
for.  The  first  surrender  here  was  that  of  Mr.  Reden- 
ger,  who  kept  the  most  respectable  saloon  in  the  city. 
At  that  time  we  had  fifty-two  licensed  saloons,  nine 
wholesale  liquor  stores,  and  eight  drug  stores,  which 
were  in  the  habit  of  selling  liquors  without  asking  any 
questions.  This  gave  us  sixty-nine  places  where 
liquor  was  sold.  Since  then  nine  saloons  have  been 
closed,  and  all  the  druorgrists  have  signed  the  druofffists’ 
pledge.  The  steamer  ‘ Granite  State,’  one  of  our 
regular  packets,  has  removed  its  bar ; all  our  physicians 
but  one  have  signed  the  physicians’  pledge ; and  one 
wholesale  dealer  the  personal  pledge.  Hundreds  of 
our  citizens  have  signed  the  personal  pledge.  In 
addition  to  the  above,  our  liquor  men  admit  that  their 
sales  have  fallen  off  from  one-half  to  two-thirds.  This 
work  the  ladies  feel  has  been  done  in  answer  to  the 
prayers  of  God’s  people.  The  street  w’ork  still  goes 
on,  with  increasing  strength  and  numbers.  All-day 
prayer-meetings  are  still  held  every  day  (Sundays 
excepted);  mass-meetings  every  night,  except  Wed- 
nesdays and  Saturdays;  mass-meeting  also  on  Sunday 
at  three  o’clock.  From  the  above  you  will  see  that 
the  war  is  not  over  in  our  city.” 

Passing  through  the  town  since  the  Crusade,  I could 


CRUSADE  AT  STRYKER. 


337 


but  notice  the  great  change  that  had  come  over  the 
place,  and  the  improved  moral  atmosphere  everywhere, 
althoueh  the  distilleries  and  the  saloons  were  still 

o 

doing  business.  Just  after  the  Crusade,  there  was  a 
great  flood  in  the  Scioto  and  Ohio  rivers,  which 
destroyed  nearly  all  the  corn,  and  much  other  grain 
and  property.  The  feeling  was  so  intense  against  the 
distilleries  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  grain,  and 
the  high  cost  of  bread-stuffs,  that  one  wealthy  distiller 
promised  not  to  use  up  their  grain  in  that  way,  a 
promise  which,  if  reports  are  true,  was  not  kept. 

The  women  continued  faithful  through  all  the  dis- 
couragements and  successes,  and  are  still  at  work. 

STRYKER,  OHIO. 

A REMARKABLE  SCENE. 

Mrs.  R.  R.  Wallace  wrote  from  Stryker,  Ohio,  April 
1 8th,  to  the  Western  Advocate: 

“The  ladies  of  our  village  have  organized  themselves 
into  a ‘Woman’s  Temperance  League.’  We  have  not 
as  yet  visited  the  saloons,  but  are  laboring  in  a differ- 
ent way.  We  meet  as  a band  every  Tuesday  and 
Friday  afternoon  for  prayer  and  speaking,  and  once  a 
week  prepare  an  entertainment  or  general  mass-meet- 
ing for  all  interested  in  temperance.  We  held  our  first 
meeting  on  Friday  evening,  April  17th,  and  a more 
impressive  scene  was  never  witnessed  in  Stryker. 
The  room  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Sev- 
eral of  our  most  prominent  saloon-keepers  were 
present.  Our  meeting  was  opened  by  singing  and 
22 


338 


CRUSADE  AT  STRYKER. 


prayer ; then  a short  address  by  Mrs.  Lindsley,  Presi- 
dent of  the  League.  We  were  next  entertained  by 
some  very  able  and  appropriate  remarks  by  Colonel 
E.  D.  Bradley.  While  he  was  speaking,  the  husband 
of  our  president,  who  is  a confirmed  drunkard,  came 
staggering  toward  the  platform.  With  shame,  mortifi- 
cation, and  deepest  anguish  depicted  on  her  counte- 
nance, the  wife  sprang  to  intercept  him,  not  knowing 
what  he  would  do.  He  pushed  by  her  and  reached 
the  rostrum.  Just  as  he  passed  her,  she  slipped  the 
protruding  bottle  from  his  pocket,  and  placed  it  on  the 
table  at  her  side.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  drunken, 
half-insensible  husband  returned  to  the  audience  and 
sat  down.  All  was  still  as  death ; rising  to  her  feet, 
and  holding  the  bottle  up  to  view,  the  half-frenzied 
wife  exclaimed : ‘ Here  is  the  cause  of  my  sorrow ! 
Here  are  the  tears — yea,  the  very  life-blood  of  a 
drunkard’s  wife.  Look  at  it,  rumseller:  Here  is  the 
poison  dealt  out  by  you  to  the  once  loved  husband  of 
my  youth  ; but  now  (pointing  to  her  husband)  behold 
the  remains — nothincr  but  the  remains — of  what  was 
once  a noble  and  honored  man.  Love,  truth,  and  even 
manhood  itself  has  fled.  Now  behold  him  ! And  here 
(pointing  to  the  bottle)  is  the  cause.’  She  stopped  for 
a moment,  and  nothing  was  heard  but  the  sobs  of  the 
audience  ; then  turning  her  pale,  anguish-stricken  face 
toward  heaven,  she  exclaimed,  ‘How  long,  O Lord,  shall 
intemperance  reign — blighting  our  dearest  earthly  hopes 
and  draining  our  very  life’s  blood !’  Then,  turning  to 
the  audience,  ‘ Can  you  wonder  why  I raise  my  voice 
against  this  terrible  evil  ? Sisters,  will  you  help  me  ? ’ 


CRUSADE  AT  CHILLICOTHE. 


339 


Cries  of  ‘Yes,  yes!’  came  from  almost  every  lady  in 
the  house.  She  sat  down  pale  and  exhausted.  The 
meeting  concluded,  but  impressions  were  made  that 
can  never  be  erased.  Sisters,  take  courage  ! the  Lord 
is  on  our  side,  and  right  must  prevail.” 

CHILLICOTHE,  OHIO. 

Chillicothe  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  State. 
It  was  settled  while  the  Indians  still  had  possession  of 
the  territory.  Like  Hillsboro’  and  Georgetown  the 
early  settlers  were  largely  Kentuckians  and  Virginians, 
and  the  same  idea  of  hospitality  obtained.  From 
the  first  settlement  up  to  the  present,  whiskey  has 
abounded. 

Forty  years  ago,  there  was  a large  number  of  dis- 
tilleries in  the  county.  But  public  sentiment  had  gradu- 
ally improved,  and  drinking  became  more  and  more 
disreputable,  until  the  Crusade  put  its  stigma  upon  it. 

Situated  in  the  valley  of  the  Scioto,  this  town  will 
remain  an  important  station  between  the  corn-fields 
and  the  distilleries,  till  the  traffic  is  overthrown. 

Chillicothe  has  the  honor  of  being  the  birth-place  of 
Mrs.  President  Hayes,  who  sympathized  with  the  Cru- 
sade movement,  and  has  since  done  signal  service  by 
banishing  liquors  from  the  Presidential  mansion. 

Saturday,  April  5th,  the  Ross  County  Temperance 
Alliance  met  in  Chillicothe,  and  although  the  ground 
was  covered  with  snow,  and  the  morning  cold  and  raw, 
there  was  a largfe  attendance  of  men  and  women.  In 
the  afternoon  four  bands  of  women,  of  about  forty  in 
each  band,  went  on  the  streets,  while  the  fifth  band 


340 


CRUSADE  AT  OTHER  TOWNS, 


remained  in  the  church  for  prayer.  They  drew  large 
crowds  upon  the  streets  to  witness  their  visits,  but 
for  a while  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  sounded 
out  upon  the  comparatively  still  streets.  The  by- 
standers, although  curious,  were  respectful,  and  only 
inside  the  saloons  from  which  the  women  were  excluded 
was  there  anything  like  opposition.  At  some  places 
there  was  whistling,  singing  and  dancing,  while  the 
women  were  singing  and  praying. 

The  women  of  this  town,  finding  that  Sabbath  was 
the  best  day  for  the  sale  of  beer  and  whiskey,  continued 
their  Crusade  work  on  Sundays  as  on  other  days. 

At  the  municipal  election,  the  whiskey  power  was 
successful.  But  the  ladies  continued  their  work  with 
increased  zeal,  regardless  of  the  defeat  at  the  polls ; 
petitions  and  pledges  were  circulated,  and  finally  a 
Women’s  Temperance  Union  organized,  with  a view  to 
a lono-  and  determined  siege. 

o o 

OTHER  TOWNS. 

The  following  towns  had  a part  in  the  Crusade,  and 
were  more  or  less  successful : London  ; Logan’s  Gap  ; 
Pomeroy;  Middleport ; Lancaster;  South  Charleston  ; 
Sydney ; Loveland ; Middletown  ; Higginsport ; Mil- 
ford; Nelsonville;  Frankfort;  Upper  Sandusky ; New 
Lexington;  Cadiz;  Toledo;  Berea;  Darrtown ; Wood- 
stock  ; Somerville ; Hamilton ; Walnut  Hills ; Ply- 
mouth ; Norwalk  ; Gallon  ; Dennison  ; West  Jefferson  ; 
Harmony  Village;  Yellow  Springs;  West  Milton; 
Hanover;  College  Corner;  Mechanicsburg ; Mount 
Carmel;  Fort  Ancient;  hlount  Sterling;  Sunbui*)-; 
Osborn  ; Alpha ; Ironton  ; and  Sandusky. 


MRS.  DR.  McCABE. 


INDIANA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SHELBYVILLE,  INDIANA. 

I AM  indebted  to  Mrs.  Prof.  Harrison  for  the  follow- 
ing facts : 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1874,  a number  of  earnest, 
devoted  women  first  made  their  appearance  on  our 
public  square,  to  prosecute  the  glorious  work  of  the 
Crusade.  It  is  true,  faithful  men  had  been  engagfed  in 
the  cause  forty  or  fifty  years  previous  to  this;  and  a 
noble  work  they  had  done,  both  for  temperance  and 
religion.  We  would  honor  the  names  of  the  workers 
in  such  a blessed  cause. 

During  this  time  various  societies  had  sprung  into 
existence.  First,  there  was  the  Total  Abstinence 
Society;  then  the  Washingtonians;  next  the  Good 
Templars,  and  so  on. 

But  all  this  time  women,  for  the  most  part,  remained 
in  the  background,  hoping  and  praying  at  home,  and 
in  their  closets,  for  the  success  of  the  efforts  of  their 
faithful  husbands  and  brothers. 

But  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Crusade,  things 
grew  very  dark  and  discouraging  to  some  of  the  wives 

(341) 


342 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


and  mothers  in  Shelby ville;  and,  hearing  of  the  suc- 
cess of  their  sisters  in  Ohio,  they  resolved  to  ascertain 
whether  Indiana  liquor  men  had  yielding  consciences 
like  those  of  Ohio.  So,  after  careful  and  prayerful 
consideration,  a mothers’  meeting  was  called,  to  de- 
termine what  had  best  be  done.  No  one  but  those 
who  were  present  at  that  meeting  could  conceive  how 
wonderfully  they  were  encouraged  to  go  to  work,  trust- 
ing in  the  Lord  for  success.  It  seemed  as  if  they  had 
an  inspiration  from  Heaven  for  their  great  undertaking. 
At  a meeting  of  the  Good  Templars,  held  the  next 
evening,  some  of  the  gentlemen  present  suggested 
that  a committee  of  ladies  be  appointed  to  visit  an  in- 
dividual who  was  talking  of  opening  a new  saloon, 
never  dreaming  that  out  of  this  the  Women’s  Crusade 
would  commence  in  Indiana.  Volunteers  were  called 
for,  and  ten  Christian  ladies  offered  their  services.  The 
next  morning  all  met  at  the  house  of  a devoted  sister; 
and  there,  in  solemn,  fervent  prayer,  invoked  Divine  aid. 

From  this  fact  it  will  be  seen  that  they  did  not  go 
out  under  improper  excitement,  or  without  calm  and 
deliberate  consideration.  The  rain  was  pouring  down 
freely,  but  this  did  not  deter  them : in  fact,  they  thought  it 
was  a suitable  time  for  cold-waterworkers.  Accordingly, 
a speaker  for  the  occasion  was  appointed,  and  the  roll 
called,  and  all  fell  into  line  to  visit  the  individual  re- 
ferred to.  They  met  with  good  success.  The  man’s 
heart  was  touched  to  tenderness.  They  were  then  as- 
sured that  God  was  in  the  work;  and  a proposition  was 
made  to  visit  another  place  where  liquor  was  sold  in 
great  quantities.  At  once  the  proposition  was  acc^ed 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


343 


to.  And,  if  there  be  such  a place  as  Pandemonium  on 
earth,  that  certainly  was  the  place.  More  than  a dozen 
men  were  drinking  at  the  bar,  as  we  entered.  Two  or 
three  were  past  walking,  and  they  lay  on  a table, 
dead  drunk.  With  those  more  sober,  religious  con- 
versation was  held,  and  we  trust  that  the  faithful  words 
spoken  that  morning  produced  good  that  eternity  alone 
will  reveal. 

The  ladies  now  resolved  to  visit  every  saloon  in  the 
place,  which  was  accordingly  done.  That  night,  we 
believe,  but  few  families  offered  prayer  who  did  not  re- 
member the  ladies  on  their  mission  of  love  and  mercy. 
All  Christians  were  in  sympathy  with  this  wonderful 
work  of  God,  and  encouraged  true  Christian  women 
to  labor  for  the  suppression  of  the  gigantic  evil  of  in- 
temperance. Soon  they  had  a host  of  co-workers — 
about  two  hundred  were  added  to  the  number.  They 
were  encouraged  by  numbers  of  noble  Christian  men, 
coming  forward  with  their  money  and  influence  to  as- 
sist in  the  work  of  reformation.  The  ladies  continued 
earnestly  laboring  in  the  cause. 

The  first  saloon  which  surrendered  was  converted 
Into  a union  chapel,  and  about  seventy-five  ladies 
marched,  in  line,  from  one  of  the  churches  to  the  new 
place  of  worship. 

Language  would  fail  if  I should  attempt  to  describe 
the  scene.  Suffice  it  to  say,  a low,  wretched,  sin-cursed 
saloon  was  turned  Into  a temple  of  prayer  and  praise; 
and  a sweet  little  girl  living  there  wished  those  ladies 
would  sing  and  pray  all  the  time — it  was  so  much 
pleasanter  than  cursing  and  quarrelling. 


344 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


But  I must  refer  to  one  earnest  minister  who  spoke 
on  that  occasion : I mean  a lady  minister.  Crowds  of 
hard-drinking  men  were  her  audience  in  the  room, 
and  on  the  sidewalk  were  other  crowds  witnessing  the 
scene,  all  listening  to  her  eloquent  appeals.  This 
sister  said  she  had  a talented  brother,  whom  to  know 
was  but  to  love,  and  yet,  notwithstanding  his  noble 
and  generous  nature,  he  fell  a victim  to  the  vice  of 
intemperance ; and  she  was  certain,  if  he  could  only 
come  out  of  his  grave,  he  would  most  faithfully  warn 
every  one,  of  the  terrible  evil,  and  most  earnestly 
beseech  all  to  sign  the  pledge,  never,  never  to  touch 
intoxicating  drink.  But  this  could  not  be  permitted ; 
and  she  felt  it  her  imperative  duty  to  do  all  in  her 
power  to  promote  the  blessed  work  of  temperance 
amongst  those  around  her  as  neighbors  and  friends. 
She  then  poured  forth  a stream  of  eloquent  Christian 
words,  such  as  few  had  ever  heard  before.  Surely 
the  Spirit  of  God  was  in  that  wonderfully  changed 
place  at  that  solemn  hour.  The  work  went  on  with 
varied  success  for  several  months,  and  a number  of 
inebriates  were  reformed,  who  have  stood  firm  to  this 
day,  and  the  friends  of  the  cause  were  strengthened  in 
the  faith. 

We  ought  to  add  that  the  saloon  which  was  closed 
was  used  for  prayer-meetings  and  a reading-room, 
until  it  passed  into  other  hands,  when  the  temperance 
society  moved  to  one  of  the  churches,  where  the  meet- 
ings have  been  held  ever  since.  Several  meetings 
have  been  held  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  at 
which  excellent  addresses  have  been  delivered  and 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


345 


powerful  appeals  made,  and  an  amount  of  good  done 
which  we  have  not  space  to  relate.  A great  many 
meetings  have  also  been  held  in  our  city,  which  have 
been  addressed  by  Governor  Cumback,  Mr.  Baxter, 
and  other  distinguished  speakers  from  abroad,  as  well 
as  several  at  home.  Among  the  home  speakers  we 
would  refer  to  the  late  Judge  Wright,  a man  who  was 
well  skilled  in  argument,  had  a fluent  speech,  and, 
moreover,  was  never  ashamed  to  avow  his  sentiments. 
If  all  lawyers  and  men  of  talent  had  the  independence 
and  moral  heroism  that  he  had,  in  a very  short  time 
the  death-blow  would  be  given  to  intemperance,  and 
our  glorious  country,  nay,  the  whole  world,  would 
be  forever  free  from  its  terrible  and  demoralizing 
influence. 

The  society  is  now  working  under  the  Womens’ 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  of  Indiana,  praying  for 
the  suppression  of  intemperance,  visiting  drunkards’ 
families,  circulating  pledges,  and  canvassing  for  signa- 
tures to  petitions  to  send  to  legislative  bodies.  Over 
one  thousand  names  have  been  sent  last  winter  and 
this,  praying  that  something  may  be  done  effectually 
for  the  destruction  of  this  great  national  evil.  Many 
persons  that  frowned  and  spoke  unpleasantly  a year 
or  two  ago,  when  asked  this  year,  would  sign  gladly, 
and  express  the  wish  that  the  dreadful  business  was 
stopped  at  once  and  forever.  And  now  we  hail  with 
joy  the  district  convention  in  our  midst,  attended  by 
such  talented  Christian  women  to  assist  us.  And  we 
fervently  hope  during  the  coming  year  that  many 
more  Christian  ladies  will  join  our  society,  and  unite 


346 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


their  influence  with  ours  for  the  entire  removal  of  the 
greatest  evil  that  now  curses  our  land.  We  are  aware 
that  there  are  some  persons  who  are  opposed  to  this 
work,  especially  as  carried  on  by  the  women  ; but  if 
the  Saviour,  our  great  Exemplar,  could  approve  of 
women  working,  and  even  commend  them  for  their 
efforts  to  do  good,  we  feel  perfectly  safe  in  going  for- 
ward in  His  name.  He  that  is  for  us  is  more  than  all 
that  can  be  against  us.  To  Him  be  all  the  glory. 

I gather  from  newspapers  published  at  the  time,  the 
followingr  additional  facts; 

Shelbyville  contained  one  large  distillery  of  “Corn 
Whiskey,”  a brewery  of  poor  ale,  five  doggeries, 
licensed  under  the  Baxter  law,  five  drug  stores,  three 
unlicensed  liquor  shops,  and  three  or  four  houses  of 
ill  fame,  a total  of  public  places  of  drunkenness  of 
nineteen  or  twenty.  The  principal  liquor  family  in 
town  bears  the  name  of  Deprez.  They  came  from 
Cincinnati  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  have  grown 
rich  selling  liquor.  Three  of  the  principal  licensed 
doggeries  are  run  by  two  brothers  and  a sister  of  this 
family.  The  old  stock  were  German  Presbyterians  in 
faith.  “Gus”  (as  he  is  familiarly  called)  keeps  the 
original  establishment  opposite  the  I.  C.  & L.  Rail- 
road depot.  George  had  a substantial  brick  concern 
on  the  public  square,  and  their  sister,  and  her  husband, 
Silas  Metzer,  are  located  on  a principal  street,  adjoin- 
ing the  Baptist  Church. 

Robertson  & Nickum  had  a wholesale  liquor  house 
and  dram  shop  beside.  Robertson  was  the  county 
treasurer  lately,  and  belongs  to  a reputable  family. 


CRUSADE  AT  SHELBYVILLE. 


347 


Gid,  Keck  is  the  remaining  licensed  keeper.  Captain 
Maze  and  O’Conner  had  the  principal  unlicensed  rum 
depots. 

The  ladies  made  daily  visits  to  these  places.  The 
first  of  these  visits  was  made  by  about  a dozen  elderly 
and  middle-aged  ladies. 

At  Metzer’s  they  were  met  with  insulting  language 
and  impertinence.  George  Deprez  denied  them  ad- 
mittance. Robertson,  of  the  firm  of  Robertson  & 
Nickum,  treated  them  very  rudely  and  contemptuously. 

No  more  visits  were  made  for  four  days.  During 
that  time,  however,  the  ladies  were  getting  organized, 
and  when  they  again  went  out  they  were  led  by  Mrs. 
Elliott,  and  were  about  fifty  strong.  They  again 
visited  George  Deprez;  this  time  they  were  very 
kindly  received  and  were  invited  in,  and  held  a prayer- 
meeting, but  could  get  no  one  to  sign  the  pledge. 

The  saloon  of  Maze  was  visited.  They  were  ad- 
mitted and  found  about  a dozen  men  in  the  saloon. 
They  were  a motley  crew.  One  or  two  bore  lingering 
traces  of  former  intelligent  manhood.  Others  were 
the  sad  pitiable  wrecks  of  alcoholic  poison.  Not  one  had 
reached  middle  life.  They  held  their  prayer-meeting, 
and  before  they  left  every  man  was  in  tears,  and  the 
proprietor  gave  a conditional  promise  to  surrender. 
The  second  visit  to  this  place  Captain  Maze  signed  the 
pledge  and  gave  up  the  business.  He  went  into 
another  business,  and  his  place  became  the  head- 
quarters for  the  Crusaders. 

They  organized  under  the  following  pledge: 

“We,  the  undersigned  ladies  of  Shelbyville  and 


348 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 


vicinity,  do  hereby  or-ganize  ourselves  into  a league, 
to  be  called  the  Women’s  Temperance  Union,  for  the 
purpose  of  suppressing  the  liquor  traffic,  and  we 
solemnly  pledge  ourselves  to  use  all  just  and  honor- 
able means  in  our  power  to  accomplish  this  object.” 

Among  the  hundred  names  signed  to  this  paper  are 
those  of  Mrs.  Elliott,  wife  of  the  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  Mrs.  Judge  Wright,  Mrs.  Rev.  G.  P. 
Jenkins,  Mrs.  Dr.  Green,  Mrs.  Professor  Harrison, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Robins,  Mrs.  Dr.  Parrish,  Mrs.  Dr.  Clayton, 
Mrs.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Hattie  Robbins,  Mrs.  Sprague, 
Mrs.  Lide  Shaw,  Mrs.  Cumback,  Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Dunn, 
Mrs.  Jeffras,  and  others. 

JEFFERSONVILLE,  INDIANA. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Seymour  furnishes  the  following  interest- 
ing facts  of  the  work  in  Jeffersonville: 

At  ten  o’clock  a.  m.,  February  12th,  1874,  about  one 
hundred  of  the  ladies  of  Jeffersonville  met  in  Wall 
Street  Sunday-school  room,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing a Women’s  Temperance  Union.  After  a state- 
ment of  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  a free  discus-  , 
sion,  an  organization  was  effected.  The  following 
pledge  was  signed  by  a large  number  of  the  ladies 
present: 

“We  pledge  ourselves  to  be  at  ever)"  meeting,  if 
possible,  and  assist  in  this  work  of  mercy.  We  also 
pledge  ourselves  to  pray  three  times,  daily,  for  this 
special  work.” 

At  the  afternoon  session  of  the  same  day  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  presented  and  adopted ; 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 


349 


“ Whereas,  We  believe  that  a crisis  has  been  reached, 
m which  true  popular  sentiment  demands  the  cessation 
of  the  liquor  traffic;  and,  whereas.  We  have  at  heart 
the  real  interest  of  the  seller,  as  well  as  the  buyer  of 
alcohol,  therefore 

''Resolved,  i.  That  we,  the  women  of  Jeffersonville, 
organize  ourselves  into  a Women’s  Temperance 
Union. 

“2.  That  our  object  shall  be,  by  moral  suasion,  to  in- 
duce liquor-dealers  to  abandon  their  business,  for  their 
own  welfare,  and  that  of  humanity ; that,  in  our  efforts, 
we  will  maintain  an  humble  dependence  upon  Divine 
influence,  knowing  that  without  that  we  can  do  nothing. 

“ 3.  That,  uniting  our  prayers,  we  will  never  cease 
pleading  until  our  object  is  attained. 

“ 4.  That  we  invite  the  active  co-operation  of  every 
true  woman  in  the  city,  whether  a Christian  or  not ; 
and  that  we  ask  the  prayers  and  moral  support  of  all 
good  men.” 

It  was  resolved  that  the  officers  of  this  Women’s 
Temperance  Union  be  constituted  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee, who  shall  have  the  direction  of  the  movements 
in  which  we  are  engaged,  seven  of  whom  shall  consti- 
tute a quorum. 

Notwithstanding  a blinding  storm  of  rain,  which  con- 
tinued all  the  afternoon,  a large  number  of  ladies  as- 
sembled in  Johnson’s  Hall  the  next  day,  February  13th, 
to  perfect  further  the  work  of  the  organization.  A 
greater  part  of  the  time  was  spent  in  fervent  prayer, 
for  the  presence  and  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
the  difficult  work  we  had  undertaken,  and  the  comfort- 


350 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 


ing  assurance  was  given  to  many  hearts  that  the  Lord 
of  Hosts  was  with  us. 

It  was  resolved  to  hold  a secret  session  on  the  follow- 
ing day  at  Wall  Street  Church,  to  which  none  but  mem- 
bers of  the  Union  should  be  admitted.  By  this  time, 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  ladies  had  signified  their  in- 
tention to  engage  in  the  active  work  of  the  Union,  by 
signing  the  pledge  before  referred  to. 

As  agreed,  the  Union  met  on  the  afternoon  of  Feb- 
ruary 14th.  After  a short  season  of  solemn  prayer,  in 
which  every  soul  was  stilled,  as  in  the  visible  presence 
of  God,  the  officer  presiding  said  : “ During  the  silent 
watches  of  the  night,  while  engaged  in  prayer,  the  con- 
viction had  come  to  her,  that  we  oucrht  to  beorin  active 
work  at  once.”  Several  others  said  they  had  been 
similarly  impressed.  The  president  then  read  Matt. 

32>  33 — “Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  confess  me 
before  men,  him  will  I confess,  also,  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven ; but  whosoever  shall  deny  me 
before  men,  him  will  I also  deny  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  ” — immediately  following  it  with 
the  request  that  every  lady  who  was  willing  to  go  to  the 
saloons  to  hold  meetings,  and  go  at  once,  would  rise 
to  their  feet.  Over  sixty  responded.  We  were  soon 
formed  in  line,  and  silently  and  solemnly  we  went  forth, 
with  tremblinof  but  trustful  hearts. 

By  the  time  we  reached  our  first  point  of  attack, 
Stauss’  saloon,  the  alarm  had  spread,  every  door  and 
window  was  bolted  and  barred,  and  a rabble  waiting 
in  front  to  receive  us.  In  response  to  our  knock,  the 
bar-keeper  appeared,  trembling  and  as  white  as  a ghost, 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE.  35 1 

and  said  Mr.  Stauss  had  gone  over  the  Falls,  and  he 
could  admit  no  one  in  his  absence.  Here  we  held 
our  first  street  prayer-meeting,  amid  the  angry  taunts 
of  the  crowd  assembled  to  intimidate  us. 

From  here  we  passed  on  to  Font’s,  one  of  the  largest 
saloons,  and  the  only  one  in  the  city  kept  by  a native 
American.  Here  we  were  received  with  a show  of 
politeness,  and  invited  in;  but,  as  the  event  proved, 
only  with  the  purpose  of  heaping  upon  us  every  in- 
dignity they  dared  offer.  The  sale  of  liquors  never 
ceased  for  a moment ; rude,  half-drunken  men  crowded 
about  us,  with  oaths  and  songs,  attempting  to  drown 
the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise. 

By  the  time  we  reached  Klispie’s,  the  fashionable 
drinking-place  of  the  town,  we  were  surrounded  by  an 
angry  mob.  Here  we  were  invited  to  enter,  which  we 
did,  and  began  our  prayer-meeting.  We  could  not 
kneel,  for  the  crowd  pressed  so  closely  upon  us  ; our 
voices  were  drowned  in  the  terrible  din;  barrels  of 
beer  were  broken  open,  and  their  contents  distributed  ; 
glasses,  when  emptied,  were  thrown  up  in  the  air,  and 
came  down  upon  the  counter  or  floor  with  a deafening 
crash ; the  bar-keeper  sprang  upon  the  counter,  and 
led  in  a ribald  song,  in  which  his  companions  joined 
him ; men  beat  upon  the  doors  and  empty  beer  bar- 
rels, and  yelled  with  rage ; they  glared  upon  us  with 
eyes  full  of  deadly  hate,  but  they  dared  not  touch  a 
hair  of  our  heads,  or  a thread  of  our  garments,  for 
God  was  around  and  about  us  as  a wall  of  fire:  we  felt 
as  safe  and  secure  as  we  ever  did  sittinsf  about  our 
own  quiet  firesides — a new  and  wonderful  sense  of  our 


352  CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 

Father’s  protecting  care  over  us,  came  to  us  as  we  wor- 
shipped amid  that  pandemonium;  and  as  we  passed 
out,  unharmed,  feelings  akin  to  those  experienced  by 
the  Hebrew  children,  as  they  emerged  from  the  fiery 
furnace,  stirred  our  breasts. 

We  returned  to  the  church,  to  bow  in  humble  grat- 
itude before  Him  who  had  been  our  Guide. 

Such  was  the  history  of  the  first  day’s  work  among 
the  saloons.  Days,  and  w^eeks,  and  even  months  passed, 
in  which  these  scenes  were  repeated,  though  rarely 
were  the  powers  of  darkness  so  rampant  as  on  this 
first  day. 

On  Monday  morning,  Februar}'  i6th,  w^e  visited  a 
number  of  the  saloons  again.  We  w^ere  not  expected, 
and  held  our  meetings  without  any  disturbance.  In 
the  afternoon  w^e  held  a praise  and  prayer-meeting, 
while  a mob  of  five  thousand  people,  wFo  had  gath- 
ered from  our  neighboring  city,  Louisville,  raged  w'ith 
disappointment  without.  The  street  about  the  church 
was  so  crowded  that  our  policemen  were  obliged  to 
clear  a way  for  those  who  wished  to  enter  or  leave  the 
meeting.  Hour  after  hour  they  waited  for  the  Cru- 
saders to  appear,  until  the  darkness  of  coming  night 
drove  them  home. 

The  heart  experiences  of  those  days  can  never  be 
told.  JVe  walked  with  God.  His  presence  made  it 
light  all  about  us ; w^e  knew  the  blessedness  of  being 
reviled  and  persecuted  for  Christ’s  sake ; the  most 
timid  among  us  grew^  strong  and  brave  enough  to 
bear  any  cross,  and  w^e  all  felt  it  was  sw^eet  not  only  to 
work,  but  to  suffer  for  His  sake. 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 


353 


As  the  result  of  the  first  month’s  work,  all  the 
druggists  of  the  city  signed  the  druggists’  pledge ; all 
the  physicians  but  two  signed  pledges  to  use  liquor  in 
their  practice  in  cases  of  emergency  only. 

Total  abstinence  pledges  had  been  generally  signed. 
There  was  such  an  awakening  upon  the  subject 
of  temperance  as  was  never  known  before.  The 
liquor  traffic  was  reduced  at  least  sixty  per  cent. 
Ninety-one  street  and  saloon  meetings  had  been  held. 
Though  no  saloon  had  been  closed,  most  cheering 
moral  results  had  been  attained,  and  the  workers  felt 
that  their  labor  had  not  been  in  vain. 

Efforts  were  made  by  the  saloon-keepers  to  bring 
the  law  to  bear  upon  us,  to  prevent  our  holding  street 
meetings.  With  this  in  view,  Judges  Bicknell,  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  published  a card,  stating,  among  other 
things,  that  “ Mob  law  enforced  by  women  is  no  better 
than  mob  law  enforced  by  men.  Also,  no  crowd  has 
a right  to  assemble  in  a man’s  place  of  lawful  business 
to  interrupt  that  business  by  praying,  or  anything  else. 
Further,  that  violation  of  natural  or  social  rights,  if 
encouraged,  generally  end  in  riot  and  bloodshed.” 

On  Saturday,  March  28th,  the  only  American  saloon- 
keeper in  the  town  signed  the  pledge  and  closed  his 
saloon. 

In  September,  we  held  a Martha  Washington  tea 
party,  which  brought  ^325  into  our  treasury.  A large 
part  of  this  was  expended  in  securing  temperance 
speakers  from  abroad  to  assist  us  at  our  mass-meet- 
ings, which  were  inaugurated  at  the  beginning  of  our 
work,  and  held  semi-weekly  for  a year  and  a half, 

23 


354  CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 

On  June  9th,  the  Secretary  of  the  Union  made  the 
following  record : 

Since  February  12th,  the  Ladies’  Temperance 
Union  of  Jeffersonville  has  held  152  street  prayer- 
meetings,  beside  a large  amount  of  committee  work 
done,  visiting  saloons,  offering  pledges,  conversing 
with  saloon-keepers,  trying  to  persuade  them  to  give 
up  their  unholy  business,  and  in  many  instances  pray- 
ing with  and  for  them. 

When  the  Union  commenced  its  work,  there  were 
forty-two  places  in  the  city  where  liquor  was  sold. 
One  saloon  has  closed,  and  several  others  been  com- 
pelled to  cease  selling.  We  have  circulated  pledges 
in  every  ward  in  the  city,  and  in  most  of  the  wards 
have  secured  the  names  of  a majority  of  the  voters 
against  signing  permits  for  license.  We  feel  that  for 
three  months,  at  least,  we  have  tried  earnestly  to  work 
for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  to 
hasten  the  coming  of  His  kingdom.  We  feel  that  we 
have  received  rich  supplies  of  grace  day  by  day,  as  we 
have  gone  forth  to  work  in  this  vineyard,  and  humbly 
trust  our  works  may  prove  a blessing  to  our  city,  and 
to  the  cause  for  which  we  are  laboring. 

A week  or  two  later,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of 
the  city  stated  publicly  that  there  were  eight  times  as 
many  cases  in  the  city  court  in  the  same  length  of 
time  in  1873  as  in  1874.  He  attributed  this  fact  to 
the  womans’  movement ; it  spoke  for  itself ; he  had 
had  but  two  fees  in  a month. 

We  continued  our  saloon  work  at  inter\'als  during 
the  winter,  generally  visiting  them  in  committees  of 
three  or  more. 


CRUSADE  AT  JEFFERSONVILLE. 


355 


Temperance  literature  was  secured  and  distributed 
broadcast.  Much  was  accomplished  by  individual 
effort.  Our  last  visit  to  the  saloons  was  made  March 
5th,  1875,  after  which  date  our  Union  ceased  to  exist 
as  an  active  organization.  A large  part  of  our  mem- 
bers have  since  identified  themselves  with  the  Ribbon 
Club,  or  other  similar  organizations,  and  are  engaged 
in  temperance  work  in  some  way. 

Last  Saturday  there  was  a meeting  called  for  the 
purpose  of  reorganizing  our  Union. 

A VOICE  FROM  THE  PRISON  HOUSE. 

Jeffersonville,  Indiana. 

Mrs.  WiTTENMEYER : — Your  astonishment  will  doubt- 
less be  great  at  receiving  this  letter,  when  I tell  you 
it  is  from  a convict.  Your  excellent  paper  {The 
Christian  Woman)  has  reached  me  by  the  hands  of 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Osborn,  who  sometimes  visits  this  prison 
as  a missionary.  Your  paper  has  been  a bright  light 
in  a dark  cell,  by  pointing  me  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  that 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  I have  nothing 
stirring  to  communicate — stern  realities  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  of  the  soul  demand  my  utmost  attention.  To 
take  one  glance  at  the  537  uniformed  convicts,  filing  into 
the  dining-room  in  long,  sad  lines,  and  to  know  that  this 
mass  of  thieves,  murderers,  and  adepts  in  all  kinds  of 
villany,  owe  their  condition  remotely  or  immediately 
to  the  thousand-toothed  demon  called  the  worm  of  the 
still,  is  a temperance  lecture  more  eloquent  than  ever 
thrilled  an  audience  of  Gough,  Malloy,  or  Benson. 
And  I am  one  of  them.  Oh,  how  it  makes  my  heart 


356 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 


aclie  to  realize  this  awful  fact.  Never  can  I wrap 
myself  in  the  shroud  of  oblivion.  As  I look  back  upon 
my  past  life,  it  seems  to  be  a cesspool  of  iniquity ; a 
trackless  desert,  inhabited  only  by  the  spirits  of  past 
opportunities ; an  ocean  of  the  soul,  wrapt  in  all  the 
horrors  of  Stygian  darkness ; and  swept  incessantly 
with  the  dread  simooms  of  remorse. 

I am  but  a youth,  comparatively  speaking ; but  my 
life  has  been  a life  of  dissipation.  I have  seen  and 
felt  enough  of  intemperance  to  make  me  regard  it 
with  detestation. 

This  confinement  has  been  a God’s  blessinof  to  me. 
Liberty  is  sweet,  friends  are  dear,  but  if  I knew  that  I 
had  to  live  my  past  life  over,  I would  rather  remain 
here  the  remainder  of  my  days.  Please  remember  me 
kindly  in  your  prayers.  Now,  may  God  bless  you, 
and  your  labor,  above  all  I can  ask  or  think,  is  the 
humble  and  sincere  jDrayer  of  A.  S.  J. 

% 

CHESTERTOWN,  INDIANA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  C.  S.  Jones  for  tlie  following 
facts : 

About  the  first  week  in  March,  1874,  we  organized 
our  first  Crusade  band.  We  met  at  the  M.  E.  Church 
several  days,  before  we  ventured  out  on  the  street. 
We  were  few  in  number;  only  twenty-two  at  first,  but 
our  number  increased.  There  was  a mighty  work  be- 
fore us,  for  our  town  was  of  whiskey-birth ; as  the  first 
erection  was  a whiskey-barrel,  then  a house,  then  a 
saloon. 

When  we  organized,  there  were  five  places  where 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 


357 


intoxicating'  drinks  could  be  had  in  our  little  village, 
and  three  up  the  railroad  at  the  next  station.  Some 
said,  “You  'will  never  see  the  day  when  there  will  not 
be  a saloon  in  Chestertown,”  but  we  all  did.  In  con- 
nection with  the  band,  we  held  two  meetings  a week, 
in  which  we  obtained  signers  to  the  pledge. 

We  conducted  our  meetings  in  the  way  that  the  M. 
E.  Church  does  its  love-feasts.  We  did  not  send  off 
for  help,  but  went  at  it  ourselves,  and  by  the  aid  of  the 
great  Helper  we  succeeded  in  closing  six  saloons,  two 
drug  stores,  and  one  place  where  they  sold  in  con- 
nection with  their  groceries.  This  was  completed  in 
six  weeks.  So  Chestertown  led  the  van  in  Porter 
county. 

There  were  some  amusing  circumstances  connected 

o 

with  our  work,  which,  perhaps,  will  be  interesting  to 
some  of  our  readers.  When  we  first  met,  some  said, 
we  had  better  wait  until  they  get  through  at  Valjoar- 
aiso,  and  get  them  to  come  and  help  us;  but  the  Spirit 
said  work,  and  we  could  not  wait,  not  knowing  how 
long  we  should  have  to  wait.  And  as  they  appointed 
me  as  their  leader,  I thought,  perhaps,  it  would  be  best 
to  visit  Valparaiso,  and  learn  their  method  of  work. 
So  I started,  and  leaving  the  depot,  walked  up-town, 
and  there  were  the  faithful  Christian  temperance 
women  at  the  door  of  a saloon,  praying  and  singing, 
with  hearts  full  of  love  for  their  fellow-creatures,  A 
hearty  welcome  was  given,  and  for  two  days  we 
worked  together. 

O 

Returning  home  with  still  stronger  convictions,  we 
went  to  work  in  earnest,  but  some  said,  “ Remember,  I 


358 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 


have  no  faith,”  and  others,  “I  will  join  if  you  will  not 
go  out  on  the  street;”  consequently,  we  had  to  move 
slowly  at  first,  until  their  courage  arose.  As  I told 
them  we  were  not  going  in  the  street  until  we  got 
ready,  we  did  not,  but  after  meeting  a few  times,  they 
were  all  ready,  and  we  started,  and,  as  in  other  cases, 
the  very  dogs  were  ready  to  help,  for  as  one  of  the 
number  owned  a nice,  white  dog,  it  took  the  lead, 
and  as  we  walked  the  street,  it  advanced  of  its  own 
accord,  and  cleared  the  way.  It  was  amusing  to  see 
it,  and  as  we  desired  solemnity,  it  required  no  little 
effort  to  suppress  laughter.  Thus  we  passed  down 
Main  street,  and  back  to  the  church,  ever)’body  run- 
ning to  see  us. 

Each  day  we  met,  we  tried  to  take  the  saloonists  by 
surprise,  and  often  did.  We  had  articles  of  agree- 
ment drawn  for  the  different  dealers  in  the  traffic,  and 
finally  presented  them,  and  they  were  duly  signed, 
although  it  took  much  persuading  to  get  it  done.  In 
one  instance,  the  owner  of  the  property  that  was 
rented  for  a saloon,  threatened  to  take  hold  of  the 
keeper  for  the  rent,  but  the  Lord  softened  his  heart, 
and  he  relented ; he  said  he  would  put  his  beer  in  the 
cellar,  and  drink  it  himself,  and  when  that  was  gone 
he  would  get  more ; if  he  could  not  get  it  in  America, 
he  would  send  across  the  ocean. 

But  this  man’s  family  were  all,  except  one,  stricken 
down  by  disease,  and  lay  near  death,  himself  dying,  so 
he  did  not  live  to  drink  the  beer.  I hope  the  Lord 
had  mercy  on  his  soul,  for  his  wife  told  me  (as  I visited 
her  in  their  affliction),  that  he  thought  he  should  not 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 


359 


live,  and  that  he  read  his  Bible  constantly,  as  long  as 
' he  could,  and  he  requested  Mr,  Jones  to  visit  him, 
which  he  did,  reading  the  consoling  promises  to  him, 
and  conversing  with  him ; he  stated  that  his  trust  was 
in  Jesus, 

After  we  had  closed  all  the  saloons,  some  proposed 
to  have  this  poison  delivered  at  their  cellars  by  means 
of  a beer-wagon  driven  by  one  of  the  distillers  of 
Valparaiso,  This  way  of  evading  the  law  they  thought 
would  match  us.  Luckily,  we  espied  the  first  arrival. 
We  were  at  the  church.  Those  who  had  made  their 
previous  purchase  were  not  at  home,  and  as  their  wives 
belonged  to  the  temperance  band,  they  were  forbidden 
to  leave  it,  and  they  were  defeated.  At  other  places 
they  left  the  beer  if  they  were  enough  in  advance  of 
the  band. 

However,  we  did  not  get  discouraged.  We  resolved 
that  the  first  one  that  saw  the  beer-wagon  was  to  ring 
the  church-bell,  and  no  matter  what  we  were  doing, 
or  at  what  hour,  we  were  to  run  to  the  rescue.  One 
morning  ring,  ring,  ring;  louder  and  louder  pealed 
forth  the  call  trom  the  old  bell.  True  to  our  resolu- 
tion, we  all  ran.  The  old,  gray-haired  grandmother, 
the  maid,  and  the  children  (for  we  were  drilling  our 
daughters).  We  met  and  followed  the  beer- wagon, 
now  up  one  street,  then  down  an  alley;  lifting  up  our 
banner  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  He  helped  us  to 
triumph. 

The  driver  had  started  very  early,  even  before 
breakfast,  and  we  gave  him  no  peace ; he  had  to  re- 
treat, and  go  back  to  Valparaiso.  A gentleman  com- 


36o 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 


ing  from  Valparaiso  said  that  he  saw  him,  and  tried  to 
get  him  to  come  back,  and  take  a load  of  carpenters 
with  him : his  reply  was,  “ I would  not  go  back  to 
Chestertown  for  a thousand  dollars.” 

This  is  what  became  of  the  travelling  saloon,  but 
the  driver  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord ; for  death 
followed  close  at  his  heels. 

A German  kept  liquor  in  the  house  where  he  kept 
the  post-office,  and  he  said  that  he  never  would  give 
up  to  these  “ vimmens.”  But  we  found  the  quickest 
way  to  get  a German  to  yield  was  to  get  at  his  money. 
He  had  violated  the  law,  the  officials  arrested  him,  and 
they  told  him  if  he  would  sign  the  women’s  paper,  and 
not  sell  any  more,  and  give  them  his  license,  they 
would  pardon  him ; so  rather  than  lose  his  money,  he 
said : “ Send  dem  vimmens,  and  .1  will  sign  der 
bapers.”  They  brought  him  to  my  house,  and  he  was 
glad  to  sign  our  papers,  and  give  us  his  liquor  license, 
which  we  keep  as  a proof  of  the  work  we  had  done. 

It  was  common  for  saloon-keepers  to  make  threats, 
but  we  often  found  that  they  were  the  greatest  cow- 
ards, and  they  were  the  most  easily  overcome  when 
approached  in  the  right  way.  One  at  Porter  said  that 
he  would  shoot  us,  and  his  wife  said  she  would  scald 
us,  but  two  of  us  went  to  the  saloon,  and  he  gave  us 
his  license  and  signed  our  papers  without  any  trouble. 
Thus  we  closed  our  work  at  home  and  vicinity.  Then 
the  Macedonian  cry  came  from  Lake,  Miller,  Robert, 
and  other  stations,  “ Come  over  and  help  us.”  As  we 
felt  it  to  be  our  duty,  we  said  we  would  come.  As  Lake 
was  first  in  order,  we  sent  them  an  appointment,  a 


CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN.  36 1 

band-meeting  in  the  day,  and  mass-meeting  at  night. 
The  day  arrived ; four  of  us  went  up  in  the  morning, 
organized  the  band  the  best  we  could.  In  the  even- 
ing there  were  about  twenty  members  of  our  society 
left  the  train,  and  were  met  by  the  best  of  the  citizens, 
and  escorted  to  tea,  after  which  we  repaired  to  the 
school-house  for  mass-meeting.  We  opened  our 
meeting,  as  usual,  with  reading  of  the  Scripture  and 
devotions,  and  singing  by  our  temperance  glee  club. 
During  the  speaking  the  opposite  party  made  quite  a 
noise,  and  finally  it  was  almost  a mob.  Some  became 
frightened,  but  we  kept  them  quiet  as  possible.  We 
offered  them  a chance  to  defend  their  cause,  but  they 
did  not  seem  to  be  disposed  to  do  so. 

When  they  found  that  they  could  not  break  up  our 
meeting,  some  left  the  house  and  joined  the  rabble 
out-doors,  firing  guns,  and  groaning  to  make  us  think 
some  one  was  hurt,  and  thus  cause  us  to  leave.  But 
we  had  met  to  hold  a temperance  meeting,  and  we 
did.  When  we  were  ready  we  circulated  the  pledge, 
and  obtained  about  thirty  names,  several  of  whom 
were  drunkards.  Several  signed  because  they  saw 
the  effects  of  liquor,  and  were  ashamed  of  their  party, 
and  I am  happy  to  say,  that  in  returning  to  the  cars  none 
were  hurt,  although  the  roughs  escorted  them  to  the 
train  with  tin  cans, — anything  that  would  make  a noise. 
But  one  of  their  own  company  met  them  at  the  depot, 
drew  his  coat,  and  ordered  them  to  let  the  temperance 
folks  alone,  throw  down  their  clubs,  and  behave  them- 
selves as  they  ought  to.  This  ended  our  first  day  and 
night’s  work  at  Lake  Station.  However,  our  Crusade 


362  CRUSADE  AT  CHESTERTOWN. 

band  did  not  all  go;  several  stayed  until  the  next  day, 
to  assist  in  getting  into  working  order  the  newly  or- 
ganized band. 

According  to  appointment  we  met,  and  started  out 
to  visit  the  drinking  saloons.  First,  we  obtained  the 
signature  of  the  keeper  of  the  hotel.  While  our 
committee  were  in,  the  rest  stood  on  the  sidewalk 
singing ; a train  arrived,  and  the  train  hands  seeing 
them  there,  left  the  train,  secured  clubs,  and  marched 
toward  the  band,  swinging  and  flourishing  them,  but, 
as  the  women  sang  on  and  stood  firm,  they  slackened 
their  pace,  dropped  their  clubs,  and  returned  to  the 
railroad  again.  One  more  victory  achieved,  with  re- 
newed strength  we  proceeded  to  the  next  place,  it 
being  a saloon.  The  wife  met  us  at  the  door.  We 
told  her  we  wished  to  see  her  husband.  She  said  he 
was  sick.  We  mistrusted  what  ailed  him,  and  said  we 
would  come  in.  She  opened  the  door,  and  we  went 
in.  He  seemed  frightened ; he  finally  said  he  would 
re-ship  his  liquor  and  quit. 

He  always  got  sick  when  the  Crusade  came  around. 
As  this  station  had  so  hard  a name,  the  temperance 
people  had  sent  for  an  officer  from  Crown  Point  to 
guard  us ; and  he,  having  arrived,  went  with  us  to  the 
next  saloon.  It  being  the  hardest  place  in  town, 
some  advised  us  not  to  go,  as  they  considered  it  not 
safe,  but  we  went,  our  guard  at  our  side.  The  saloon- 
keeper was  not  at  home ; his  wife  was  up-stairs,  and 
talked  to  us  out  of  the  window.  In  the  adjoining  lot 
there  was  an  old  house  filled  with  men,  but  no  harm 
was  done  us.  We  did  not  succeed  at  this  place  in 


CRUSADE  AT  THORNTOWN. 


363 


dosing  all  the  saloons,  as  we  could  not  stay,  and  the 
band  at  this  town  met  with  things  that  they  thought 
they  could  not  overcome ; yet  there  was  a good  work 
done,  and  many  saved.  We  held  other  mass-meet- 
ings at  this  place,  but  were  not  disturbed. 

Our  next  point  was  Hobart.  We  organized  a band 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  held  a mass-meet- 
ing at  night,  had  an  interesting  meeting,  and  obtained 
about  thirty  more  names  to  the  pledge,  and  left  the 
work  to  them.  There  is  one  thing  that  should  not 
be  overlooked,  and  that  is : the  first  year  not  one 
of  our  company  died,  but  five  of  our  opposers  were 
suddenly  stricken  down.  Different  ones  sent  me  word, 
on  their  dying  beds,  that  they  were  wrong,  and  the  tem- 
perance folks  were  right.  I felt  to  say,  “The  Lord 
called,  but  ye  would  not  hearken.”  There  were  about 
five  hundred  signed  our  temperance  pledge. 

THORNTOWN,  INDIANA. 

Caroline  E.  Haworth  furnishes  the  followinpf  facts: 

The  tidal  wave  which  struck  Thorntown,  the  i6th 
of  March,  1874,  was  preceded  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  or 
perhaps  the  Awakening  Angel,  who  visited  some  three 
or  four  of  our  number. 

Never  shall  I forget  one  night  about  midnight,  when 
I was  aroused  from  my  slumber,  as  if  some  one  was 
shaking  my  pillow,  and  I heard  a voice,  an  audible 
voice,  saying:  “What  hast  thou  done  for  me?  I have 
died  for  thee,”  and  a mighty  trembling  seized  my 
whole  being,  for  I knew  it  was  the  voice  of  the  Lord. 
The  words  were  repeated ; I became  alarmed ; upon 


364  CRUSADE  AT  THORNTOWN. 

being  asked  what  was  the  matter,  I repeated  what  I 
had  heard,  and  said  I did  not  know  but  the  Lord  was 
going  to  send  me  away  as  a missionary  or  something, 
I did  not  know  what;  I could  not  sleep,  I was  in  such 
terrible  agony:  I tried  to  say,  “Lord,  Thy  will  be  done, 
not  mine,”  but  my  rebellious  heart  would  not  surren- 
der. The  next  night  the  whole  scene  was  re-enacted, 
tJien  I partially  surrendered,  telling  the  Lord,  I would 
do  what  I could,  for  I felt  I could  endure  it  no  longer, 
and  he  knew  me  altogether,  and  would  not  require 
more  of  me  than  I was  able  to  perform. 

The  next  night  Mrs.  Henderson,  in  a meeting,  re- 
lated a similar  experience,  and  said  she  had  promised 
the  Lord  she  would  go  to  a drug  store,  which  was 
selling  intoxicating  liquors,  and  offer  up  prayer,  and 
if  there  was  a sister  in  the  house  who  would  qo  with 
her,  she  would  please  rise:  four  arose  to  their  feet. 
Niofht  came  and  six  Christian  mothers  miqht  have 
been  seen  wending  their  way  down  the  street  to  the 
drug  store.  A hymn  was  first  sung,  then  all  knelt 
down  by  the  door.  Mrs.  Henderson  led  in  prayer, 
then  Mrs.  Hines.  After  singing  another  appropriate 
verse,  Mrs.  Milhouse,  of  precious  memory-,  with  pale, 
earnest,  upturned  face,  in  a solemn,  truthful  man- 
ner, pleaded  that  God  would  hear  and  answer  His 
children. 

On  leaving  the  place  the  proprietor  said  he  wished 
it  distinctly  understood,  that  we  were  “not  to  come 
again  on  these  steps;  you  profess  to  be  sent  here  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  but  I think  your  God  is  in  h — 1.” 
At  that  the  hissing  crowd  rushed  around  him,  while 


CRUSADE  AT  THORNTOWN.  365 

these  timid  women  walked  quietly  away,  nothing 
daunted,  believing  it  was  better  to  obey  God  rather 
than  man.  The  next  night  the  little  band  numbered 
twenty,  and  repaired  to  the  place  and  knelt  just  off 
of  the  pavement  down  in  the  snow,  and  there  suppli- 
cated a throne  of  grace.  The  third  night  the  praying 
band  had  increased  to  about  fifty,  the  crowd  still  in- 
creasing in  proportion. 

Not  only  the  town  people,  but  for  miles  around  in 
the  country,  the  people  came  to  see  and  hear. 

A daily  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  one  of  the 
churches,  for  over  one  year;  then  a prayer-meeting 
was  held  every  Thursday  afternoon.  Mass-meetings 
were  held,  public  speakers  engaged,  remonstrances 
and  pledges  circulated,  and  the  work  kept  on  increas- 
ing and  steadily  advancing. 

A Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  or- 
ganized, with  Mrs.  Milhouse  as  President. 

One  of  the  leading  spirits  in  this  Crusade,  a great 
sufferer  from  intemperance,  one  on  whom  the  Spirit 
of  God  rested,  was  “Grandma  Boyd.”  She  was  instant 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  and  being  a natural 
orator,  could  fight  the  enemy  hand  to  hand,  and  face 
to  face;  then,  as  she  often  expressed  herself,  mounting 
her  light  horse  (which  was  her  prayer  charger),  she 
would  go  direct  to  the  great  white  Throne,  and  there 
with  strong  faith,  take  hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar. 
At  such  times  she  seemed  almost  to  bring  heaven 
and  earth  tog-ether. 

o 


366  CRUSADE  AT  CRAWFORDSVILLE. 

CRAWFORDSVILLE,  INDIANA. 

Miss  Mary  D,  Naylor  furnishes  the  following  brief 
sketch  of  the  temperance  work  done  in  Crawfords- 
ville : 

“In  the  winter  of  1874,  when  the  ‘Woman’s  Cru- 
sade’ began  in  Ohio,  and  spread  over  the  State  like  a 
wave  of  the  sea,  the  women  of  Indiana  watched  and 
waited  for  the  results  with  intense  interest.  And,  with 
‘ bated  breath,’  said  one  to  another,  “ What  if  this  ‘ tidal  ' 
wave’  rolls  over  into  Indiana ! Are  we  ready  for  it  ? 
And  have  we  not  as  much  reason  for  this  work  as  our 
sisters  of  Ohio?  Have  we  not  saloons  in  our  midst, 
and  is  not  the  liquor-traffic  bringing  ruin  and  desola- 
tion to  many  homes?  And  is  not  this  the  ‘call  of 
God’  to  the  women  of  our  land  to  put  away  this  evil 
from  us  ?” 

A mass-meeting  of  the  temperance  people  of  the 
city  of  Crawfordsville  was  called  to  meet  in  Centre 
Presbyterian  Church,  at  three  o’clock  p.  m.,  March  nth, 
1874.  This  “call”  was  largely  responded  to,  by  the 
ministers  of  the  various  churches,  and  the  leading  men  • 
and  women  of  the  city. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  opened  by 
singing  the  hymn,  “ All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’  name,” 
followed  by  a fervent  prayer  for  God’s  blessing  upon 
the  work,  by  Rev.  R.  F.  Caldwell — and  then  the  beau- 
tiful song,  “ Shining  Shore,”  was  sung.  Rev.  John 
Safford,  pastor  of  the  church,  assured  us  of  his  hearty 
co-operation  in  the  work ; and  gave  as  a motto,  “ Push 
things,”  as  one  worthy  to  be  accepted  as  our  battle-cry 
in  this  great  and  glorious  work  of  exterminating  the 


CRUSADE  AT  CRAWFORDSVILLE.  367 

liquor-traffic,  never  forgetting  that  in  God  is  our 
strength  and  help. 

A Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  that  day,  with  the  following  officers  elect  : 

Mrs.  Joseph  Milligan,  President ; Mrs.  Maria  L.  Nay- 
lor, Vice-President,  ist  Ward  ; Mrs.  Wm,  Enoch,  Vice- 
President,  2d  Ward ; Mrs.  Dr.  Purviance,  Vice-Presi- 
dent, 3d  Ward;  Mrs.  J.  P.  Campbell,  Treasurer;  Miss 
Mary  D.  Naylor,  Secretary. 

This  official  force,  with  the  many  earnest  Christian 
men  and  women  ready  for  work,  met  often  in  the 
various  churches  (which  were  freely  opened  to  them), 
for  prayer  and  counsel,  as  to  the  best  methods  for 
furthering  our  cause.  It  was  not  deemed  best  to 
Crusade”  on  the  streets ; but  to  avail  ourselves  of  the 
Baxter  law,  (local  option,)  and  prosecute  the  cases  in 
our  courts.  Whenever  petitions  were  presented  for 
license,  to  file  a remonstrance,  and  with  proper  wit- 
nesses to  testify  as  to  the  “ moral  character,”  etc.,  of 
the  applicant;  with  our  temperance  men  and  women 
present  in  the  court-room,  an  unprecedented  influence 
was  thus  brought  to  bear,  and  one  case  after  another 
defeated.  In  fact  not  one  of  the  many  applicants 
received  license. 

Much  good  was  done  in  this  way — not  only  by  shut- 
ting up  the  saloons,  and  preventing  the  opening  of 
new  ones,  but  also  by  the  building  up  of  a public 
sentiment  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  and  a stirring 
up  of  the  temperance  element,  and  bringing  to  a de- 
cided opinion  many  who  heretofore  were  conservative, 
and  had  felt  no  individual  responsibility  in  the  matter. 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


368 

Good  Templar  Lodges  have  been  revived  and  in- 
creased by  die  labors  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  both  in  our  city  and  throughout  the 
county.  Some  saloon  visiting  was  done  ; but  not  to 
any  great  extent.  We  worked  in  any  and  all  ways,  to 
overcome  the  enemy.  We  have  been  permitted  to  see 
men  taken  from  the  gutter,  become  sober,  Christian 
men,  “ clothed  and  in  their  right  mind,”  who  attribute 
their  conversion  to  the  efforts  of  the  Christian  temper- 
ance workers. 

Eternity  alone  can  reveal  all  the  results.  The  “Cru- 
sade” is  not  dead,  the  work  still  goes  on.  That  the 
“little  leaven”  will  finally  “leaven  the  whole  lump,”  is 
my  unwavering  faith. 

Truly,  “ God  moves  in  a mysterious  way.  His  won- 
ders to  perform.” 

EVANSVILLE,  INDIANA. 

The  officers  of  the  Union  furnish  the  following  facts: 
We  have  been  called  the  Sevastopol  of  intemperance 
in  comparison  with  other  places  in  the  State.  Whether 
we  deserved  this  name  or  not,  it  is  a fact  that  intem- 
perance prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent ; and  while  its 
ravages  were  all  around  us,  few  seemed  to  realize  the 
danger. 

Some  of  our  ladies  had  been  reading;  of  the  Crusade 
work  in  other  places,  and  were  awakened  to  the  sub- 
ject, but  were  hesitating  as  to  the  expediency  of  in- 
augurating the  work  here,  where  we  had  such  a mixed 
population,  when  the  ministers,  at  their  monthly 
meeting,  drew  up  resolutions,  calling  upon  the 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


369 


Christian  women  to  take  active  steps  in  the ’matter. 
This  decided  them,  even  the  doubting  ones  feeling 
they  could  not  hold  back,  without  being  allied  to  the 
enemy. 

Our  first  meeting  was  held  March  14th,  1874,  twelve 
churches  being  represented.  After  organizing,  and 
electing  officers,  our  first  aggressive  work  was  to  enlist 
the  various  county  officials,  members  of  the  bar,  etc., 
by  presenting  a petition  for  their  signatures,  asking 
their  sympathy  and  indorsement  of  the  movement, 
and  their  co-operation  in  the  enforcement  of  the  exist- 
ing temperance  laws. 

This  petition  was  largely  signed  by  the  members  of 
the  bar,  and  it  may  also  be  a matter  of  surprise  to 
know  that  our  county  commissioners  were  the  first  to 
put  their  names  to  the  paper.  But  it  is  a fact,  and 
stands  out  in  strange  contrast  to  the  course  they  after- 
wards pursued.  It  clearly  shows  the  wonderfully 
potent  effect  that  mere  personal  interest,  and  political 
pressure,  has  upon  our  officials,  to  warp  their  better 
judgment,  and  turn  them  from  their  honest  con- 
victions. 

As  our  work  progressed,  it  seemed  to  shape  itself 
more  into  a determination  for  the  enforcement  of  the 
liquor  law,  and  the  toning  up  and  educating  of  public 
sentiment,  rather  than  saloon  visitation  and  street- 
praying, as  in  many  other  places. 

In  accord  with  this  fact,  morning  prayer-meetings 
were  established,  public  mass-meetings  were  held,  and 
a total  abstinence  and  a voters’  pledge  were  circulated 
for  signatures.  In  canvassing,  our  ladies  had  some 
24 


370 


. CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE, 


racy  as'  well  as  trying  experiences.  Some  of  our 
German  women  seemed  to  understand  just  enough  of 
English  to  say,  “No  temperance!  no  temperance!” 
and  I am  sorry  to  say  they  were  not  the  only  ones,  for 
some  of  our  own  people,  yea,  some  of  our  church 
members,  said  the  same  thing,  “No  temperance!” 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  as  two  of  our  ladies 
were  out  with  pledges,  they  came  near  being  mobbed. 
At  first  they  were  followed  by  one  saloon-keeper  only, 
who  insisted  on  their  buying  him  out.  Soon  he  was 
joined  by  one  and  another  of  his  companions,  hooting 
and  yelling  as  they  went  along.  The  ladies,  becoming 
alarmed  for  their  safety,  rushed  to  the  nearest  friendly 
house  for  shelter,  and  there  remained  until  the  crowd 
dispersed. 

In  many  places  in  the  State,  temperance  workers 
found  a vast  amount  of  fraud  practised,  in  the  way  the 
liquor  petitions  were  gotten  up.  Names  of  persons 
long  since  dead,  and  of  others  living  out  of  the  ward, 
as  well  as  of  those  who  had  never  authorized  such  use 
of  their  signatures,  were  all  found  attached  to  these 
petitions.  Thinking  these  irregularities  might  also 
exist  here,  our  Union  employed  counsel  to  investigate 
the  matter.  On  the  assembling  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners on  the  first  of  June,  a large  number  of  ladies, 
attended  by  their  legal  advisers,  appeared  before 
them.  One  of  our  number  offered  a fervent  prayer. 
Our  President,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Crosby,  addressed  them, 
setting  forth  these  irregularities,  and  asked  that  a 
thoroucfh  investigation  miM-it  be  made  before  sfranting 

0^0  o o 

any  permits. 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


371 


The  following  Friday  was  set  for  the  hearing  of  the 
case,  and  in  the  meantime  quite  an  excitement  was 
stirred  up.  On  Friday  the  commissioners  found  their 
own  room  too  small,  and  adjourned  to  the  one  usually 
occupied  by  the  Circuit  Court,  which  was  soon  filled 
to  overflowing. 

After  the  morning  session,  as  the  ladies  were  leav- 
ing, they  were  met  by  an  excited  mob ; and  here  I 
quote,  as  authority,  from  the  Evening  Herald  of  that 
date,  as  perhaps  the  description  is  more  graphic  than 
I can  give : 

“After  rendering  this  decision,  the  commissioners 
adjourned  till  the  afternoon.  At  half-past  one,  the 
audience,  which  had  by  this  time  increased  to  a great 
number,  then  left  the  court- room,  and  a great  portion 
of  them,  mostly  saloon-keepers  and  their  patrons, 
stationed  themselves  along  the  aisles  from  the  court- 
house to  the  sidewalk,  through  which  it  was  supposed 
the  ladies  would  have  to  pass. 

“Judge  Robinson  was  the  first  one  to  run  the  gaunt- 
let, and  his  appearance  was  greeted  with  hisses  and 
scoffs,  some  of  the  participants  going  so  far  as  to  push 
him  rudely  from  one  side  to  the  other.  Then  the 
ladies  prepared  to  make  their  exit;  the  buzz  and 
clamor  of  the  mob  in  the  yard  could  be  plainly  heard. 
As  they  descended  the  stairs  led  by  Rev.  Mr.  Webb, 
of  Ingle  Street  Church,  they  saw  the  men,  and  desir- 
ing to  escape  them,  they  turned  to  make  their  exit 
through  the  side  door  opening  to  Main  street. 

“It  was  here  that  August  Brauns,  a man  who,  by 
some  peculiar  and  unaccountable  line  of  circumstances. 


372 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


has  been  awarded  the  responsible  position  of  Deputy 
County  Auditor,  showed  himself.  He  saw  the  move- 
ment the  ladies  were  about  to  make,  and  hurriedly 
running  to  the  door,  cried  out:  ‘Here  they  go  around 
this  way.’  With  a yell  the  mob  started  around  in 
front. 

“The  ladies  faltered,  and  dared  not  venture  out  into 
that  yelling,  hissing,  scoffing  mob,  when  suddenly  our 
gallant  sheriff.  Add.  Plafflin,  sprang  to  the  front,  and 
cried  out  that  he  would  see  that  those  ladies  were  not 
hurt.  Drawing  his  billy,  he  rushed  into  the  street, 
and  cried  out,  ‘Stand  back  or  somebody  will  get  hurt.’ 
The  mob  stopped,  not  a man  moved.  Held  by  the 
power  of  one  man’s  bravery  this  select  assembly  of 
transplanted  American  citizens,  who  a few  moments 
ago  had,  with  unparalleled  bravery,  bristled  about  a 
feeble  gray-haired  old  man,  and  who  an  instant  before 
were  prepared  to  assault  the  ladies,  stood  speechless. 

“ In  an  instant  the  deputies  had  rallied  to  their  chief; 
and  under  the  protection  of  the  corps,  the  ladies 
walked  down  Main  street  and  dispersed  to  their 
homes.” 

In  the  afternoon  most  of  the  ladies  returned,  and 
during  the  rest  of  the  trial,  which  lasted  several  days, 
the  number  increased.  At  first  we  imagined  we 
should  have  a fair  and  impartial  hearing;  everything 
was  evidently  in  our  favor.  In  one  petition  we  found 
names  omitted,  but  still  numbered;  names  repeated 
several  times.  Thirteen  swore  positively,  that  they 
never  authorized  such  use  of  their  signatures,  and 
when  asked  to  do  so  had  refused.  Still,  in  the  face 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE, 


373 


of  all  this,  these  very  petitions  were  granted.  In  fact 
it  was  a kind  of  a wholesale  business,  for  as  many  as 
seventy  permits  were  granted  in  one  day. 

It  was  remarked  to  the  president  of  the  board  of 
commissioners,  that  he  would  be  met  on  this  question 
at  the  polls,  and  it  is  pleasant  to  know  that  he  was  met 
there  at  the  late  fall  elections  and  defeated. 

One  of  the  inspired  said,  “When  the  wicked  beareth 
rule,  the  people  mourn.”  We  find  this  as  true  to-day 
as  it  has  been  in  all  ages  past. 

Through  the  summer  our  weekly  prayer-meetings 
were  kept  up.  The  subject  of  youth’s  temperance 
societies  was  often  under  discussion,  but  deferred  from 
time  to  time.  In  December,  1874,  we  circulated  two 
petitions,  one  issued  by  the  State  Temperance  Alliance; 
the  other  by  the  Ladies’  Temperance  Union,  of  In- 
diana. Both  of  these  petitions  received  a good  num- 
ber of  signatures,  and  were  presented  to  our  Legisla- 
ture, by  Mrs.  ex-Governor  Wallace,  of  Indianapolis. 
We  also  circulated  a memorial  to  Congress,  asking 
for  restrictive  legislation  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  the  Territories, 

This  in  brief  is  a summary  of  our  first  year’s  work. 
The  question  has  often  been  asked.  What  does  all  this 
effort  and  self-sacrifice  amount  to?  That  more  prayer, 
more  faith,  and  more  zeal  could  have  produced  greater 
results,  cannot  be  denied;  still  our  efforts  have  not 
been  in  vain.  Of  this  we  are  certain,  though  we  may 
be  unable  to  measure  ultimate  consequences.  Some 
tempted  souls  have  been  led  to  form  better  resolu- 
tions, and  our  own  children  even,  may  have  had  their 


374 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


feet  turned  unto  the  right  path  by  our  efforts  and 
examples. 

The  agitation  and  consequent  discussion  of  this 
subject  has  awakened  the  public  mind  to  the  enormity 
of  this  evil,  and  many  who  were  indifferent  before,  are 
earnest  workers  now.  I am  told  that  on  last  New 
Year’s  day,  most  of  our  ladies,  who  were  accus- 
tomed previously  to  entertain  with  wines,  banished  it 
entirely  from  their  boards. 

After  our  defeat  before  the  county  commissioners, 
as  heretofore  described,  and  the  repeal  of  the  Baxter 
law  by  the  Legislature  the  following  winter,  the  enemy 
felt  that  the  temperance  cause  was  entirely  vanquished, 
and  that  they  had  the  field.  Many  of  our  own  num- 
ber left  us,  and  those  who  had  never  joined  us  seemed 
to  feel  a pleasure  that  they  had  never  been  mixed  up 
with  anything  so  unpopular.  We  saw  there  was  no 
redress  in  human  laws,  and  so  appealed  our  case 
directly  to  the  high  court  above,  feeling  assured  the 
great  Judge  would  not  turn  a deaf  ear  to  our  plead- 
ings, but  that  in  His  own  time,  and  His  own  way, 
would  surely  grant  our  petition.  And  so  a temper- 
ance prayer-meeting  was  established,  or  rather  con- 
tinued; and  for  over  two  years  this  little  band  of 
sisters,  often  not  more  than  enough  to  claim  the  prom- 
ise, have  met  together  and  pleaded  their  cause. 

In  the  meantime,  several  petitions  and  memorials 
were  circulated  and  sent  to  the  Central  Society,  at 
Indianapolis,  to  be  presented  to  the  Legislature,  or  to 
be  forwarded  on  to  Washington.  It  is  an  old  saying 
that  “the  darkest  hour  is  just  before  day,”  and  so  it 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


375 


proved  with  us,  for  scarcely  a glimmer  of  light  shed  its 
ray  out  over  the  midnight  darkness. 

In  May  of  this  year  our  President,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Ross, 
attended  the  annual  meeting  of  the  VV.  C.  T.  U.  of 
Indiana,  held  in  Richmond,  and  there  met  Mr.  Bonta- 
cue,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  red  ribbon  movement. 
She  came  home  enthused  with  the  subject,  and  soon 
after  presented  the  cause  in  her  own  church  prayer- 
meeting, getting  a response  from  one  brother,  that  he 
could  stand  by  her  in  case  Mr.  Bontacue  should  come. 
And  so  this  faithful  band  of  sisters  came  together,  and 
prayed  over  the  matter;  and  with  not  a few  misgivings 
as  to  final  results,  directed  the  message  to  him  to 
come. 

He  arrived  the  19th  of  June,  and  at  first  the  meet- 
ings were  small,  and  for  nearly  a week  very  few  con- 
verts w'ere  made  to  the  cause.  They  felt  discouraged, 
and  talked  over  ways  and  means  for  success,  and 
finally  appointed  a meeting  for  men  only,  in  the  Crim- 
inal Court  room.  When  the  meeting  began  very 
few  were  present,  but  soon  the  singing  in  such  an 
unusual  place  attracted  attention,  and  one  after  an- 
other dropped  in,  till  there  was  a tolerably  good 
audience. 

That  night  a young  man,  well  known  in  the  city,  be- 
longing to  a family  of  wealth  and  culture,  went  for- 
ward, signed  the  pledge,  donned  the  red  ribbon,  and 
made  a little  speech.  It  acted  like  an  electric  shock  in 
the  community.  People  flocked  thither  to  see  what 
was  going  on.  Soon  they  were  compelled  to  adjourn 
to  a larger  hall.  Other  young  men  joined,  making 


376 


CRUSADE  AT  EVANSVILLE. 


initiatory  speeches,  and  hundreds  were  unable  to  get 
into  the  hall,  and  were  compelled  to  go  away. 

All  this  time  the  temperance  women  stood  back, 
directing  affairs,  but  were  not  publicly  known  as  being 
more  than  other  observers.  Mr.  Bontacue  remained 
some  days  longer,  organizing  the  Red,  White,  and  Blue 
Ribbon  Clubs,  and  then  left  for  other  fields  of  labor. 

Under  the  able  leadership  of  the  Presidents  of  the 
different  clubs,  the  work  is  still  going  on.  In  the  city 
and  county,  at  this  date,  September  i8th,  1877,  there 
are  about  four  thousand  members.  And  so  our  hearts 
rejoice  in  the  Lord,  for  He  has  done  more  for  us  than 
we  could  ask,  or  even  think. 

We  can  hardly  believe  our  own  eyes,  as  we  see  these 
men  “clothed  and  in  their  riHit  mind,”  standing  before 
large  audiences,  pleading  with  church  members,  as  well 
as  with  drinking  men,  to  come  and  join  them.  We 
hope  the  work  is  just  begun,  and  that  it  will  go  on  till 
all  shall  be  gathered,  not  only  under  the  temperance 
banner,  but  also  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

M.  A.  Ross  gives  the  following  interesting  incident: 

“We  had  a large  distillery  here,  running  in  full  force, 
when  our  work  began,  and  one  of  our  sisters  made  it 
a special  point  in  her  prayer,  to  ask  that  its  wheels 
might  be  stopped,  its  doors  closed,  its  grain  given  to 
feed  the  poor,  and  its  men  find  better  employment.  In 
a few  weeks  it  was  closed,  and  has  never  made  another 
gallon  of  whiskey  since.  It  went  into  the  hands  of  the 
government,  and  was  several  times  offered  for  sale, 
finding  no  purchaser.  It  was  sold  a few  weeks  ago  to 
a party  who  are  fitting  it  up  as  a flour  mill;  and  now, 
verily,  its  grain  will  go  to  feed  the  poor.” 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


377 


MADISON,  INDIANA. 

I am  Indebted  to  Mary  E.  Sullivan,  Secretary  of  the 
Union  at  this  place,  for  the  following  facts : 

The  untold  anguish  of  years  found  utterance  at  last 
on  the  morning  of  March  5th,  1874.  Rev.  W.  W. 
Snyder  prepared  the  way  for  the  Quakeress,  Mrs. 
Hunt  and  her  husband,  and  others,  for  the  Crusade  in 
Madison.  And  as  if  we  were  to  meet  with  the  direst 
opposition  from  the  very  outset,  the  liquor-men,  this 
same  evening,  met  and  formed  an  organization  to 
resist  the  women. 

Mrs.  Hunt,  after  her  husband’s  address,  rose  calmly 
and  spoke  to  the  masses  crowded  into  the  pews,  aisles, 
and  gallery  of  Old  W esley  Chapel.  The  enthusiasm 
was  intense.  On  the  morning  of  March  7th,  a busi- 
ness meeting  came  together  at  Trinity  Church.  W. 
M.  Monroe  gave  a stirring  address  ; proffered  his  aid 
to  do  anything — work  that  was  too  menial  for  any- 
body else,  to  enable  him  to  make  amends  for  wrongs 
committed  years  ago,  when  he  kept  a hotel  before  he 
was  God’s  servant.  Local  option  prevailed  In  Indiana, 
and  J.  W.  Levick  urged  “action.”  Accordingly,  after 
prayer  by  Mrs.  Hunt,  the  ladies  filed  out,  and  moved 
in  a body  to  the  court-house,  to  visit  the  commis- 
sioners who  were  then  in  session.  And  now,  for  the 
first  time,  the  voice  of  a woman  was  heard  In  prayer 
in  that  building,  and  amid  the  most  Intense  interest 
and  profound  attention,  she  prayed  for  the  court-house 
officials. 

We  continued  our  visits  to  the  commissioners,  and 
committees  canvassed  the  city,  urging  those  who  had 


37^ 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


signed  the  petitions  of  saloonists  to  withdraw  their 
names.  On  March  9th,  the  room  was  crowded  to  its 
utmost  capacity,  and  we  can  do  no  better  than  copy 
from  the  Madison  Courier : “ Gathered  about  the  three 
commissioners,  and  the  opposing  attorneys,  who  were 
seated  at  the  table,  was  an  audience,  which,  for  motley 
and  variegated  appearance,  challenges  the  experience 
of  the  oldest  inhabitant.  Side  by  side,  sat  or  stood, 
the  low,  shambling  debauchee,  and  the  lady  of  aristo- 
cratic mien  and  person.  Brewers  and  saloon-keepers 
with  burly  bodies  and  flushed  faces,  contrasted 
strangely  with  the  pale-faced,  proper-looking  parsons, 
and  their  adherents.  The  ‘ odor  of  sanctity,’  and  the 
fumes  of  tobacco,  seemed  strangely  intermingled,  and 
there  was  incongruity  in  everything.  Upon  the  open- 
ing of  the  case,  attention  was  riveted  upon  the  oppos- 
ing attorneys,  John  W.  Levick,  for  the  temperance 
cause;  and  Judge  J.  R.  Cravens,  for  Donahue.” 

Judge  Cravens  was  counsel  representing  Mr. 
Charles  A.  Korbly,  who,  throughout  the  Crusade, 
stood  like  an  adamantine  wall  against  the  ladies.  On 
the  morning  of  March  loth,  after  consulting  the 
county  attorney,  A.  D.  Vanosdol,  the  commissioners 
refused  the  license  to  sell  intoxicating  liquor  to  Mr. 
Donahue.  McLaughlin  and  Gaumer  withdrew  their 
applications. 

We  continued  our  work  quietly  and  steadily,  and  a 
great  number  of  signers  to  temperance  and  other 
pledges  were  obtained  during  our  canvass  of  the  city. 
And  all  the  time,  the  spirit  of  earnest  prayer  and  deep 
devotion  prevailed,  and  women  tremblingly  waited. 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


379 


We  knew  that  It  was  our  duty  to  visit  the  saloons,  and 
at  our  daily  meetings,  morning  and  night,  as  we  came 
down  the  aisles  of  the  various  churches,  each  would 
scan  another’s  face,  and  anxiously  inquire,  “Shall  we 
go?”  and  the  answer  would  come,  “We  are  not  yet 
prepared.”  We  agreed  to  spend  one  night  in  prayer. 
Many  wrestled  all  night  with  God,  and  light  came  in 
the  morning. 

On  the  morning  of  March  13th,  Mrs.  Indiana  Stiver 
rose  in  Christian  Chapel  and  said : “ Some  of  the 
sisters  feel  moved  to  begin  the  work  at  the  saloons. 
For  more  than  forty  years  I have  tried  to  bear  the  cross, 
and  have  never  felt  its  weight  more  heavily  than  I do 
this  morning,  but  I also  feel  that  I will  be  strengthened 
by  the  Lord  for  the  work  before  us.  I feel  like  Queen 
Esther — ‘ I will  go  in  unto  the  king,  and  if  I perish,  I 
perish,  for  we  are  sold,  I and  my  people,  to  be  slain 
and  to  perish.’  As  many  of  the  sisters  as  feel  moved 
to  go  to  the  saloons,  follow  me.  Let  us  go  into  the 
vestibule  and  select  the  place  where  we  will  commence. 
We  need  a few  of  those  who  can  sing  to  go  with  us. 
If  any  of  the  gentlemen  have  any  advice  to  give,  let 
them  give  it  now.  Let  others  stay  here  and  pray.” 
Prayer  was  offered,  and  the  hymn,  “ Guide  me,  O thou 
great  Jehovah,”  sung,  when  the  praying  band  assem- 
bled in  the  vestibule. 

The  reporter  of  the  Daily  Courier,  M.  E.  Garber, 
Jr.,  politely  advised  us  to  go  to  the  saloon  of  Tom 
Mullen,  saying  he  knew  Mullen  would  treat  us  well, 
and  walked  on  before  us  into  the  saloon.  This  band, 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


j8o 

at  first  small,  but  afterwards  increased  to  a hundred 
or  more,  consisted  in  part  of 

Mrs.  Sarah  Thomas,  Mrs.  Indiana  Stiver, 

“ Sarah  J.  Hughes,  “ Malvina  Quigley, 

“ Mrs.  Kate  V.  Williams,  “ Jewel, 

Mrs.  D.  G.  Stewart. 

Arriving  at  Mullen’s,  our  band  filed  in,  evidently  to 
the  consternation  of  the  proprietor.  The  evils  of  in- 
temperance were  of  course  depicted,  and  permission 
asked  to  pray ; but  hlullen  said  he  preferred  we 
would  not  do  so.  And  so,  thanking  him  for  his 
courtesy  to  us,  we  withdrew ; and  in  all  our  after  visits 
to  him,  he  invariably  treated  us  politeh'. 

We  moved  on  to  Johnson  Conaway’s,  at  the  door 
of  which  stood  the  barkeeper,  who  refused  admittance. 
Our  entreaties  proving  of  no  effect,  we  kneeled  on  the 
pavement  and  prayed,  the  barkeeper  in  the  meantime 
having  opened  the  door  and  locked  himself  in.  We 
then  passed  on  to  the  saloon  kept  by  Nadler,  on  Main 
street,  whose  door  we  found  locked.  Nadler  was 
very  rude,  talking  roughly,  saying,  “ It’s  no  use  to  talk 
to  me.  If  you  want  to  do  me  any  good,  gi\''e  me  some 
money;”  and  walking  off,  locked  the  door  behind. 
During  our  prayer  a window  opened  above,  and  an 
old  German  woman  cried  out  in  minHed  Mee  and 

o 

wonder,  “Oh,  see  ’em  pray!  Oh,  they  are  praying!” 
The  ladies  now  returned  to  Christian  Chapel. 

The  next  mornincr  our  band  left  the  German  M.  E. 
Church,  and  called  at  Frook’s  saloon,  the  proprietor 
of  which  treated  us  well ; but  several  men,  widi  dis- 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


381 

gu Sting  bravado,  stepped  to  the  bar  and  drank  in 
derision  of  the  women.  We  next  moved  on  to  the 
Western  Hotel,  kept  by  Henry  Neisse,  followed  by  an 
immense  crowd.  His  barkeeper  informed  us  that  the 
proprietor  w^as  not  yet  up,  but  his  instructions  were  to 
admit  no  one,  and  we  prayed  on  the  pavement. 
Drinks  were  here  taken  during  prayer.  Such  was  our 
uniform  treatment  at  Neisse’s.  Indeed,  so  often  were 
we  told  that  he  was  still  in  bed,  that  the  house  acquired 
the  name  of  “ Sleepy  Hollow.” 

Broadway  Hotel,  kept  by  George  Smith,  was  our 
next  destination,  and  the  scene  was  terrible.  Our 
band  huddled  together,  and  jeering  faces  closed 
around  us,  and  a group  at  the  bar  continued  drinking 
and  clinking  glasses,  and  the  women  of  the  house,  in 
an  adjoining  room,  tittering  and  laughing — altogether 
making  a perfect  Babel  of  confusion. 

The  Crusaders  were  followed  up  street  by  several 
hundred  people,  and  they  halted  at  George  Glass’,  at 
which  place  we  were  greeted  with  a scene  which  we 
are  sure  had  been  studied  and  practised  for  us.  Glass 
had  been  known  to  boast  how  he  would  treat  us,  and 
the  curiosity  of  the  mob  was  intense,  and  was  amply 
satisfied  in  a scene  which  beggars  description,  and 
disgraces  the  city. 

Our  leader,  Mrs.  Stiver,  having  nearly  swooned  on 
the  way,  had  dropped  into  the  house  of  a friend,  and 
we  marched  on,  led  by  Mrs.  J.  F.  Hutchinson.  The 
door  was  locked,  and  we  had  no  escape  from  the 
surging  circle  that  hemmed  us  in.  Again  we  copy 
from  the  Madisoji  Courier^  adding  name : “ Those  in 


382 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


the  rear  shoved  and  jostled  to  get  forward,  so  the 
circle  narrowed  and  decreased  till  there  was  imminent 
danger  of  the  kneeling  women  being  crushed  under 
foot.  Rough  words  were  bandied  about ; loud  Amens 
issued  from  the  bar-room ; then  snatches  of  derisive 
song ; and  amid  and  above  all  the  din,  the  orchestra 
pealed  out,  rattling  and  drumming  like  a steam  brass 
band.  But  a motherly  old  lady  (Mrs.  Susan  Buchanan) 
prayed  on,  with  her  hands  outstretched,  notwithstand- 
ing the  hideous  noise  within,  as  sweetly  and  calmly  as 
by  the  bedside  of  a little  child.  The  praying  woman’s 
action  and  utterance  alike  expressed  her  faith : ‘ The 
Lord  will  hear  us,  though  the  crowd  will  not.’ 
Presently  Glass  elbowed  his  way  through  to  the  doors 
and  threw  them  open.  He  spoke  pleasantly  to  the 
ladies,  inviting  them  in,  but  the  scene  within  was 
enough  to  deter  them.  A house  full  of  burly  men, 
drinking,  and  smoking,  and  acting  as  boisterously  as 
they  well  could.  In  the  ladies' went,  and  the  rush  after 
them  was  so  great  that  life  was  imperilled.  They  were 
greeted  by  the  proprietor  himself  in  a kindly  manner. 
He  expressed  his  regret  that  they  had  called  Satur- 
day, as  this  was  a busy  day,  and  he  could  not  give 
them  the  attention  they  deserved.” 

Glass  called  out,  “Come  in,  ladies,  and  take  a drink, 
and  hear  the  music.  I paid  so  much  for  that  organ. 
I keep  a respectable  house.”  Mrs.  Hutchinson  re- 
plied, “ If  you  keep  a respectable  house,  you  will  stop 
that  noise.”  Upon  which  Mr.  Glass,  somewhat  paci- 
fied, ordered,  “ Bill,  stop  the  organ,”  which  was  done. 
Beer  all  this  time  was  flowing  gratuitously.  But  w^e 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON, 


383 


must  add,  to  the  praise  of  One  who  protected  each  hair  of 
our  heads,  that  this  man’s  hand  was  stayed,  and  the  mob 
grew  comparatively  quiet,  and  Mr,  Glass  himself  con- 
ducted himself  much  more  gentlemanly  during  the 
rest  of  our  visit,  and  invited  us  to  call  again.  Before 
we  were  out  of  the  door,  however,  a boisterous  song 
was  raised  by  those  inside. 

The  effect  of  this  visit  was  varied.  The  monster 
Alcohol  grew  so  hideous  in  its  deformity  to  one  man, 
that  he  renounced  drink,  and  became  a temperance 
man. 

During  our  frequent  visits  to  Mr,  Glass  we  were 
never  able  to  make  any  impression  for  good  on  him. 
At  one  time,  in  response  to  the  entreaties  of  Mrs,  Stiver, 
he  replied,  “It’s  no  use.  You  can  do  me  no  good.” 
She  answered,  “Well,  Mr.  Glass,  if  we  cannot,  we  will 
pray  that  God  may.”  To  which  he  said,  in  response, 
“I  take  no  stock  in  God.”  Mrs.  Electa  Wilson  frequently 
accompanied  us  in  our  visits  here  and  elsewhere, 
and  was  very  efficient  in  praying  and  exhorting  the 
crowds.  One  morning  Mrs.  Joseph  Todd  for  the  first 
time  accompanied  us,  Mr.  Glass  asked,  in  a very 
impudent  manner,  “What  can  I do?  I can’t  shovel 
coal.”  And  she  replied,  in  a beseeching  tone,  “ You 
had  better  shovel  coal  than  ruin  our  sons.”  She  had 
known  the  effects  of  this  inhuman  traffic.  He  imme- 
diately proceeded  to  have  her  summoned  before 
Mayor  John  Marsh,  upon  charge  of  “provocation.” 
Mr.  Glass’s  counsel  refused  to  make  any  argument, 
and  after  a few  scathing  remarks  from  Mr.  A.  D, 

o 

Vanosdol,  the  counsel  of  Mrs.  Todd,  the  case  was  dis- 


384 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


missed,  when  our  band,  who  had  accompanied  her  in 
a body,  broke  out  in  a song  of  thanks. 

Mr.  Glass  afterwards  made  a cowardly  “assault 
with  intent  to  kill,”  upon  Mr.  Levick,  who  seemed  des- 
tined to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  w'ar,  and  was  slowly 
recovering  from  an  accident  in  which  he  narrowly 
escaped  losing  his  limb,  and  was  then  walking  around 
on  crutches. 

Mrs.  Horning  locked  the  doors  against  us,  as  did 
Mr.  Effinger.  . Mr.  John  Kraut  admitted  us  once, 
but  never  afterwards.  The  house  kept  by  Kraut 
bears  the  reputation  of  being  of  the  class  called  fine^ 
with  marble  counters  and  tall  mirrors ; and  manu- 
factured drunkards  by  the  hundreds.  Mr.  David 
Humphreys  always  received  us  politely,  and  always 
treated  us  well  and  gentlemanly,  but  we  were  never 
able  to  make  any  change  in  him.  C.  Kraut  refused  us 
admittance.  Johnson  Conaway  did  also,  and  we  were 
never  able  to  see  his  face.  Mrs.  Kinne  was  a reluc- 
tant host,  but  treated  us  well.  At  one  time  the  liquor 
element  felt  dissatisfied  with  the  reports  of  the  Cru- 
sade, as  published  in  the  Courier,  thinking  it  favored 
us,  and  proffered  to  pay  a reporter  themselves,  if  his 
productions  would  be  published.  On  our  part  we  felt 
that  we  were  ridiculed,  and  on  the  same  day  sent  a 
committee  to  request  Mr.  Garber,  Jr.,  to  discontinue 
his  visits  with  us.  His  reply  was,  “ That  is  what  we 
get  for  carrying  water  on  both  shoulders.” 

Henry  Pfeiffer’s  doors  closed,  as  also  did  Lohman’s. 
Mrs.  Patrick  Devany  treated  us  well.  Fred  Winne- 
field  always  refused  us  admittance,  and  we  kneeled 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON, 


381 


on  the  pavement.  On  April  4th  we  called  on  Fred 
Glass,  Mrs.  Stiver  entering  and  inquiring  for  the  pro- 
prietor. Mr.  Glass  started  up  from  the  rear  of  the 
saloon,  exclaiming,  “What’s  here— more  praying?  I 
want  no  praying.”  Mrs.  Stiver  answered,  “But  see 
here,  Mr.  Glass — ” Mr.  Glass,  abruptly,  “I  want  no 
Conversation  at  all.”  So  we  grouped  together  on  the 
pavement,  and  Mrs.  Stiver  delivered  an  impassioned 
address,  but  we  are  compelled  to  add  that,  as  far  as 
we  know,  we  were  never  able  to  produce  any  good 
effect  on  Mr.  Glass.  Mrs.  Scheible  treated  us  rudely. 
Leonard  Klein  tried  how  rudely  he  could  talk  to  us. 
We  were  sometimes  led  by  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and 
sometimes  by  Mrs.  Stiver.  Great  confusion  was 
created  on  one  occasion  by  Mrs.  Thomas,  an  old  lady 
eighty  years  of  age,  and  loved  by  everybody,  familiarly 
spoken  of  as  “ Aunt  Sally,”  stepping  into  the  doorway, 
and  kneeling  down  to  pray.  Klein  hurriedly  ran  for- 
ward, and  rudely  drove  her  up  and  off.  Aunt  Sally 
was  so  much  overcome  she  could  not  control  her 
voice,  and  said,  “ Oh,  excuse  me,  Mr.  Klein,  I am  old 
and  did  not  know  I was  doing  any  harm  ! ” Mr. 
Klein  frequently  told  us  we  were  doing  more  harm 
than  the  saloons. 

And  now  we  come  to  trying  days  indeed,  but  we 
were  upheld  by  the  power  of  God.  Mrs.  Hunt,  who 
some  time  before  this  had  left  the  city,  was  again  with 
us,  and  Mrs.  Stiver  avowed  her  own  willingness  to  sit 
at  her  feet  and  learn  of  her,  and  so  under  her  leader- 
ship we  concluded  to  visit  Walnut  street,  along  which 
almost  every  other  house  was  a saloon.  We  had 

25 


386 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


looked  forward  anxiously  to  this  time ; had  heard 
threats  of  harshness.  Cheeks  blanched  with  fear  and 
voices  trembled  with  unshed  tears.  But  into  this 
stronghold  of  the  enemy  we  marched,  and  called  first 
at  Mr.  Schwab’s,  who  treated  us  well,  and  acknowl- 
edged he  was  ashamed  of  his  business.  His  wife  was 
glad  to  see  us,  and  received  us  into  her  own  sitting- 
room,  thanking  us  with  genuine  earnestness.  Winters 
refused  to  sell  while  the  ladies  were  present,  and  a 
young  German,  being  twice  refused,  ran  behind  the 
counter,  drew  the  cork  from  the  bottle,  and  was  pro- 
ceeding to  help  himself,  when  Winters  snatched  the 
bottle  from  him,  and  made  him  leave.  Winters  firmly 
avowed  his  intention  to  sell,  however.  John  Greiner’s 
ale  wagon  stopped  here  while  we  were  inside,  and 
men  beg^an  drinkingf  and  one  of  them  took  a bottle 
to  the  door,  and  drank  from  it  ostentatiously.  By 
this  time  drays,  buggies,  and  wagons  stood  at  the 
saloon  doors,  while  swarms  of  human  beings  gazed 
upon  the  solemn  procession  of  sisters,  who  pushed 
their  way  through  the  rough  crowd,  and  commenced 
singing  at  Kimmel’s,  who  refused  to  sell  drinks  in  our 
presence.  A lady  at  the  doorway  passed  through  a 
severe  ordeal  in  barrino-  out  the  crowd. 

Jacob  Schuler’s  saloon  was  found  filled  with  men 
drinking  noisily,  and  there  was  a perfect  jam  before 
and  around  the  door  as  we  approached,  and  we  found 
Schuler  himself  intrenched  in  an  arm-chair,  haranguinof 
the  crowd,  crying,  “ Clear  off  my  pavement.” 

When  Mrs.  Hunt  said  : “Brother,  we  were  calling  on 
the  rest  and  would  not  slight  thee,”  Schuler,  pacified, 
replied,  “ I am  obliged  to  you  for  coming.” 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


387 


Our  visit  here  was  amusing  in  the  extreme.  Schuler, 
swearing  unconsciously  all  the  time,  told  of  his  bravery 
and  exploits  in  the  army,  said  he  came  to  this  country 
in  “1885” — became  very  angry  at  any  noise  inside, 

swearing,  “ I can  stop  that,  by ,”  set  down  quietly, 

while  we  prayed,  but  began  again  as  soon  as  we  arose. 

Amid  yells  and  cries,  and  great  confusion,  we  started 
for  Mat.  Bans’,  where  quite  a controversy  occurred  be- 
tween Bans  and  his  wife.  Bans’  wife  interrupted  his 
words,  and  took  up  his  argument,  and  Bans  seemed 
hugely  amused. 

After  singing  and  prayer,  we  discontinued  our 
visits  for  the  day,  but  renewed  the  skirmish  the  next 
morning,  and  called  on  S.  Pfau,  who  was  inclined  to 
shut  us  out  because  we  passed  him  yesterday.  He 
talked  kindly  to  us,  and  expressed  a hope  that  we  might 
succeed. 

Not  being  admitted  at  Barar’s,  Mrs.  Hunt  made  a 
stirring  appeal,  after  which,  and  singing  and  prayer, 
we  closed  the  Crusade  for  the  day. 

At  another  time,  led  by  Mrs.  Stiver,  we  again  went 
out  Walnut  street,  and  finding  Solcher’s  door  closed, 
we  stepped  off  three  paces,  and  held  our  usual  exer- 
cises. Soon  a rude  crowd  gathered. 

At  Mrs.  Woodchopper’s  a motley  crowd  of  children 
by  the  hundred,  women  by  the  score,  and  men  innu- 
merable, all  mixed  in  a confused  mass,  gathered.  A 
dray  with  empty  beer  barrels,  the  Walnut  street  hose, 
country  wagons,  dogs,  etc.,  completed  the  company. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Little  stepped  forward,  and,  in  her  own  kind 
way,  turning  to  a crowd  of  children,  delivered  them  an 


388 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


appropriate  address.  Mrs.  Newel  also  spoke  very 
effectively  to  some  part  of  the  crowd;  and  amid  the 
confusion  and  boisterousness  Mr.  J.  W.  Levick,  that  in- 
defatigable temperance  worker,  jumped  into  the  spring- 
wagon  of  Mr.  Auger,  while  Mr.  A.  held  the  horse, 
made  an  appropriate  speech,  tending  to  quiet  the 
people,  referring  to  his  own  German  origin.  Several 
men,  in  a rough,  though  not  rude  manner,  interrupted 
him,  asking  him  questions,  to  each  of  which  he  politely 
listened  and  replied.  He  then  jumped  to  the  ground 
and  came  near  the  ladies.  Durina-  his  address  he  was 

o 

treated  with  more  courtesy  than  we  had  any  reason  to 
expect,  and  one  German  followed  him  down  town,  de- 
siring to  sign  the  pledge. 

And  now,  having  given  a brief  account  of  some  of 
our  visits  to  the  saloons,  which  our  readers  must  take 
as  an  example  of  our  work  in  that  direction,  we  will 
pass  on  to  other  matters. 

On  April  30th,  1874,  Hon.  Wm.  Baxter  came  to 
Madison  and  spoke  on  the  subject  of  Temperance,  two 
evenings  in  succession.  The  Crusaders  held  a mass- 

o 

meeting  in  Wesley  Chapel,  on  the  evening  of  May  6th. 
The  church  was  well  filled,  our  President,  Mrs.  Stiver, 
in  the  chair.  After  singing  by  the  choir  Mrs.  Susan 
Buchanan  led  in  prayer,  after  which  Miss  Emma  Vail 
read  a portion  of  God’s  word.  Mrs.  M.  E.  Sullivan 
made  a thrilling  address. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  read  an  essay,  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
and  Miss  Mary  Page  sang  solos.  Miss  Jennie  David 
recited  an  original  poem  and  when  she  demanded, 
“ Was  it  all  the  fault  of  the  suicide?”  the  effect  was  in- 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


389 


describable.  Miss  David  was  an  indefatigable  worker, 
and  willingly  did  anything  our  band  desired,  hlrs. 
Tibbetts  concluded  the  exercises. 

Again,  on  the  evening  of  June  loth,  we  held  another 
mass-meeting  at  the  court-house,  Mrs.  Stiver  in  the 
chair.  Mrs.  Sullivan  made  the  opening  address,  followed 
by  an  essay  by  Mrs.  Anna  Dougherty,  who  in  turn  was 
followed  by  an  address  by  Mrs.  Electa  Wilson,  who 
from  the  depths  of  an  earnest  soul  poured  forth  thrill- 
ing words,  which  coming  from  the  heart  went  to  the 
heart.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  listened  to  with  rapt  atten- 
tion. Mrs.  Gilpin  concluded  by  reading  an  essay. 

In  the  meantime  committees  had  circulated  pledges 
and  procured  2,500  signers  to  the  total  abstinence 
pledge.  Our  feet  were  blistered  from  the  scorching 
streets,  while  we  worked  faithfully  on,  defeating  the 
license  of  George  Glass  and  others.  In  this  place 
we  must  make  especial  mention  of  Mrs.  Thomas 
Clark,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Crane  Black,  Mrs.  Harry  Col- 
gate, Mrs.  Berryhill,  Mrs.  James  Lewis,  Miss  Mary 
McEetridue. 

We  also  held  mass  and  street  meetings  in  various 
parts  of  the  city  and  county.  We  gratefully  remember 
Mr.  Nat  Williams,  who  at  one  time  when  we  held  a 
meeting  on  his  wharf  boat,  kindly  arranged  seats  and 
lights,  and  exerted  himself  to  make  us  as  comfortable 
as  possible.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Louisville  and  Cin- 
cinnati mail  packet,  the  commander.  Captain  Chas. 
David,  cordially  received  us  on  board,  followed  by  an 
immense  crowd.  Miss  Jennie,  daughter  of  Captain 
David,  again  recited  an  original  poem  to  an  attentive 


390 


CRUSADE  AT  MADISON. 


audience ; and  when  she  feelingly  referred  to  the  claim 
of  the  saloonists  that  theirs  was  a respectable  busi- 
ness, and  demanded  authoritatively, 

“ If  so. 

Remove  all  bolts  and  bars,  and  let  us  see 
What  gin-shops  are,  what  drunkards  do,” 

the  effect  was  thrillina-  in  the  extreme. 

o 

At  another  time  we  held  service  on  board  the  Cin- 
cinnati packet,  commanded  by  Captain  Sam.  Hildreth, 
who  received  us  cordially.  After  singing  and  prayer 
by  Mrs.  L.  J.  Hughes,  Mrs.  Stiver  spoke  for  some 
thirty  minutes,  when  after  some  other  devotions  we 
retired,  escorted  to  the  shore  by  Captain  Hildreth. 
Captain  Hildreth  afterwards  attended  one  of  our  meet- 
ings, was  so  much  impressed  that  he  resolved  he  would 
“ taste  not  the  unclean  thing,”  and  let  us  hope  that  he 
adheres  to  his  resolution. 

A stranger  meetinof  one  of  our  number  afterwards 
informed  her  that  through  our  efforts,  on  board  the 
B^iel  that  day,  he  had  ceased  the  use  of  intoxicants ; 
and  yet  we  must  record  the  bitter  with  the  sweet  and 
say  that  the  whiskey  fraternity  gave  the  United  States 
Mail  Company  warning  that  if  that  performance  was 
repeated,  they  would  ship  no  more  produce  with  them. 

And  now,  after  all  these  long  weary  months  of  suf- 
fering and  waiting,  we  have  nothing  to  recall.  Led  by 
Jehovah’s  hand  we  did  what  we  could,  and  we  leave 
the  results  to  him.  Thous^h  the  o-ood  done  seemed 
comparatively  slight,  yet  we  worked  on,  and  to-day 
we  recognize  the  recent  reform  movement  in  Madison, 
as  the  child  of  the  Q'lisade,  and  as  God’s  answer  to 


CRUSADE  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 


391 


our  prayers;  We  believe  that  by  some  agency  God 
will  answer  our  prayers  and  that  Mene,  mene,  tekel, 
^lpharsin,  is  written  over  every  bar-room  in  the  United 
States  as  plainly  as  when  the  finger  of  God  placed  it 
over  Belshazzar’s  feast. 

We  desire  to  say  that  we  have  been  warmly  seconded 
by  most  of  the  ministers  in  the  city — W.  W.  Snyder, 
J.  F.  Hutchinson,  B.  F.  Gavin,  I.  H.  Hardin,  Henry 
Keigwise  and  J.  H.  Barth.  And  we  would  especially 
mention  the  Rev.  Dr.  Little  and  Rev.  David  Stiver, 
who  have  firmly  stood  by  us  through  all  opposition  and 
given  their  wives  their  warmest  approval.  We  look 
forward  to  the  coming  day,  when  our  victory  shall  be 
complete. 

INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Dr.  R.  T.  Brown,  President 
of  the  Woman’s  State  Temperance  Union,  for  the 
followinof  facts: 

When  the  Temperance  Crusade  was  spreading  over 
the  West  like  wildfire,  in  February,  1874,  the  Friends 
held  a temperance  meeting  in  their  church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bayliss  preached  a sermon  on  Tem- 
perance at  Roberts’  Park  M.  E.  Church,' and  President 
O.  x\.  Burges,  in  a sermon  at  Bethlehem  Christian 
Church,  made  strong  appeals  to"  the  women,  spoke  of 
the  many  saloons  in  the  city,  and  told  them  to  go  out 
on  the  streets  to  work,  and  he  would  stand  by  them 
and  give  his  assistance  at  all  times,  which  promise  he 
faithfully  fulfilled.  Soon  after  this,  a call  was  made 
for  the  women  to  come  to  Roberts’  Park  Church,  to 
organize  a temperance  union.  The  attendance  was 


392 


CRUSADE  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 


large,  and  the  meeting  enthusiastic.  A central  union 
was  organized,  and  soon  after  each  ward  in  the  city 
organized  an  auxiliary  union.  There  was  a general 
awakening  in  the  hearts  of  the  women.  Well  do  I 
remember  how  large  bodies  of  women  met  first  in 
church  for  prayer,  then  walked  in  a long  procession 
through  the  streets  to  the  auditor’s  office,  and  copied 
the  petitions  filed  for  permits  to  sell  liquor,  then  again 
met  in  church  for  prayer,  before  going  to  the  Com- 
missioners’ court  to  expose  fraud.  They  asked  leave 
to  open  the  sessions  of  the  Commissioners’  court  with 
prayer,  which  was  granted,  and  there  they  sat  from 
day  to  day  with  dozens  of  beer-bloated,  brazen-faced 
men,  gazing  at  them. 

One  morning  there  were  five  temperance  women  in 
the  Commissioners’  court,  and  an  old  colored  man 
came  in  and  gave  the  women  five  pamphlets,  some  in 
prose,  some  in  doggerel  verse,  containing  low,  vulgar 
abuse  of  the  Crusaders.  The  women  hid  them,  and 
said  nothingf.  When  the  women  first  met  from  the 
different  churches,  they  were  strangers,  but  they  were 
soon  acquainted  and  became  lasting  friends.  They 
held  many  mass-meetings;  they  called  the  ministers 
into  each  other’s  pulpits  to  make  temperance  ad- 
dresses; in  short,  the  Crusade  work  brought  about  a 
Christian  union  that  nothingf  else  ever  had  done.  Prof 
R.  T,  Brown  said  it  looked  like  the  Millennium  had 
come.  The  Crusade  has  been  a great  blessing  to  the 
women  of  Indiana.  It  has  developed  latent  powers 
and  faculties  which  have  astonished  none  more  than 
themselves.  They  have  circulated  petitions  exten- 


CRUSADE  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 


393 


sively,  and  presented,  in  person,  at  two  successive 
Legislatures,  the  names  of  more  than  forty  thousand 
citizens,  praying  relief  from  the  burden  of  liquor  legis- 
lation. Besides  this,  there  has  been  a growth  in  the 
social  and  Christian  virtues  that  other  means  had 
failed  to  produce. 

The  women  kept  liquor  from  being  sold  on  the 
Exposition  Grounds  one  year,  and  the  next  the  mana- 
gers allowed  it  to  come  in,  and  fifty  of  the  leading 
temperance  women  pledged  themselves  not  to  attend 
the  fair,  and  published  the  following  card : 

TO  THE  LADY  READERS  OF  THE  INDIANA  FARMER: 

Dear  Sisters  : — Knowing  our  sex  as  we  do,  and  its 
womanly  instincts,  keenly  alive  to  all  moral  questions 
of  conscience  and  duty,  we  appeal  to  you. 

Last  year  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  inserted  a 
clause  in  its  leases  prohibiting  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors  at  the  Exposition,  and  thereby  failed  to  rent 
the  usual  number  of  stands,  losing,  as  is  claimed, 
several  thousand  dollars,  while  there  was  probably  no 
compensating  increase  in  attendance  on  that  account. 

Consequently,  the  prohibiting  clause  is  omitted  this 
year,  and  the  sale  of  intoxicants  will  be  allowed,  unless 
the  applicants  fail  to  procure  a license  from  the  Marion 
County  Board  of  Commissioners,  which  is  altogether 
improbable. 

Thus,  as  is  usually  the  case,  moral  sentiment  has 
again  been  compelled  to  retire  before  appetite  and 
avarice,  which  give  to  the  liquor  traffic  all  its  vitality. 

It  is  also  reported  that  large  sums  of  money 


394  CRUSADE  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 

(^50,000  in  one  case)  have  been  paid  to  the  Centennial 
management  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  privilege  of  sell- 
ing intoxicants  next  year,  where  our  nation,  by  “an 
exposition  of  its  material,  commercial,  intellectual  and 
political  prosperity,  resultant  from  an  hundred  years 
of  self  (?)  government,”  will  celebrate  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  that  day  when  the  “ Old  State- 
House  ” bell  proclaimed  “ liberty  throughout  the  land 
and  to  all  the  inhabitants  thereof.” 

It  is  a sad  commentary,  that  wherever  our  brothers, 
sons,  fathers  and  husbands  are  expected  to  gather, 
there  the  rum-seller  invariably  plants  himself,  plies 
successfully  his  vocation  and  spreads  his  snares. 

He  does  not  thus  intrude  upon  gatherings  of  women 
alone,  for  he  finds  no  appetite  to  meet  his  avarice. 

Now  where,  and  by  whom,  shall  a standard  be 
raised  against  this  burning  disgrace? 

By  whom,  but  the  women  and  the  churches?  Where, 
so  appropriately  as  at  our  own  Indiana  Exposition  and 
State  and  County  Fairs? 

Are  the  women  of  the  State  of  no  consideration  to 
its  commercial  interests? 

Who  wear  its  dry  goods  and  jewels?  Who  change 
annually  its  fashions,  replacing  the  old  with  the  new, 
while  the  old  is  still  tasteful  and  comparatively  un- 
worn? For  whom  do  its  young  men  dress  well?  By 
whose  tasteful  housekeeping  is  the  demand  created 
for  beautiful  carpets,  handsome  furniture  and  table 
appointments,  pictures  and  other  home  ornaments? 

To  gratify  whose  taste  are  thousands  of  men  em- 
ployed in  building  elegant  homes? 


MRS.  MARY  T.  BURT, 

Corresponding  Secretary  Woman’s  National  Christian 
. Temperance  Union. 


CRUSADE  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 


395 


Who  demands  sewing  machines,  improved  coal 
stoves  and  other  conveniences? 

For  whose  eye  is  three-fourths  of  the  display  of  our 
markets,  on  business  streets  and  at  the  Exposition? 

Verily,  women  have  a power  for  weal  or  woe,  com- 
mercially as  well  as  morally,  and  can  by  combination 
make  themselves  felt. 


Will  you  not,  therefore.  Sisters  and  Christian  peo- 
ple, unite  with  us  in  setting  our  faces  like  flint  against 
the  Indiana  Exposition  and  State  Fair,  while  the  man- 
asfement  tolerates  the  sale  of  intoxicants? 

If  these  gatherings  are  for  the  vicious  and  immoral, 
let  us  abandon  the  field  to  them;  if  for  the  virtuous 
and  moral,  let  such  insist  upon  a recognition  of  their 
moral  sentiments;  but  if  they  are  solely  business 
enterprises,  which  must  pay  at  all  hazards,  let  us 
know  it,  and  withhold  our  patronage  as  we  would 
from  a beer  garden  or  saloon. 


Mrs.  Z.  G.  Wallace, 

“ J.  H.  Bayliss, 

“ J.  A.  Ross, 

“ R.  B.  Duncan,  Sr., 
Miss  Auretta  Hoyt, 
Mrs.  H.  M.  Brown, 

“ Judge  Test, 

“ M.  M,  Finch, 

“ T.  H.  Sharpe, 

“ F,  M.  Farquhar, 
Jane  Trueblood, 

Mrs.  Dr.  J.  P.  Siddall, 

“ John  Gotschall,. 
and  many  others. 


Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Holliday, 

“ Ovid  Butler,  Sr., 

“ D.  B.  Harvey, 

“ Ingraham  Eletcher, 
“ M.  M.  B.  Goodwin, 
“ Dr.  F.  G.  Carey, 

“ John  S.  Newman, 

“ F.  C.  Holliday, 

“ H.  Parrott, 

“ Elijah  Fletcher, 
Miss  Annie  Butler, 

Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Page, 

“ R.  T.  Brown, 


39^ 


CRUSADE  AT  RICHMOND. 


The  consequence  was  that  the  Exposition  was  a 
failure,  leaving  the  board  largely  in  debt.  Since  then 
liquors  have  been  excluded  by  the  board  from  the 
fair  grounds. 

RICHMOND,  INDIANA. 

Richmond  is  a beautiful  town,  containing  about 
1 5,000  inhabitants.  Of  the  thirty-one  registered  sa- 
loons, only  one  was  doing  a legal  business  under  the 
Baxter  law.  The  town  was  of  Quaker  proclivities, 
and  the  Crusade  was  inaugurated  by  a few  Quaker 
ladies;  but  the  w’omen  of  other  denominations  rallied 
around  them,  and  the  town  was  soon  in  a blaze  of 
temperance  enthusiasm. 

Among  the  places  visited  was  the  “Continental,” 
kept  by  one  McCoy,  which  was  the  finest  saloon  in 
the  city.  McCoy  could  not  stand  the  prayers  and 
appeals  of  the  women,  but  unconditionally  surrendered. 
A thousand  dollars  was  raised,  and  loaned  to  him  to 
begin  another  business;  and  the  “Continental  Saloou” 
became  the  “Continental  Market.” 

August  Woeste  unconditionally  surrendered,  and 
his  liquors  were  poured  into  the  gutter;  a public  en- 
tertainment was  oriven  for  his  benefit.  Thomas  Lich- 

o 

tenfels  treated  the  ladies  with  the  greatest  indignity; 
he  had  a license  under  the  Baxter  law,  and  claimed 
that  he  was  cloinof  a leg-itimate  business.  The  ladies 
continued  their  visits  till  one  afternoon,  six  or  eight 
ladies  who  had  entered  were  locked  in,  and  were 
prisoners  from  four  till  nine  o’clock  p.  m.  The  very 
worst  men  in  the  city  were  in  the  saloon  at  the  time, 
drinking  and  carousing,  singing,  and  blaspheming  in 


CRUSADE  AT  RICHMOND. 


397 


mockery.  Beer  flowed  freely,  and  the  tobacco-smoke 
was  stifling,  and  the  attempts  to  frighten  the  ladies 
were  of  the  most  threatening  character.  The  noise 
and  the  confusion  was  so  great,  that  no  religious  exer- 
cises were  attempted,  but  the  women  sat  in  silent 
prayer,  while  the  drunken  rowdies  offered  every  insult 
but  actual  violence. 

The  Baxter  law  required  that  all  saloons  should  close 
at  nine  o’clock.  When  that  hour  arrived  Lichtenfels 
released  the  ladies,  and,  closing  his  saloon,  said:  “This 
is  the  last  time  I will  open  my  saloon — this  is  too  much 
for  me.”  For  a week  the  saloon  was  closed,  when, 
notwithstanding  his  promise,  he  reopened  again. 

The  Police  Board  of  the  city  had  it  in  their  power  to 
close  all  of  the  saloons  of  the  city,  but  the  one  that 
was  licensed;  but,  instead  of  hunting  up  evidence  to 
stop  the  illegal  business,  they  hunted  up  a city  ordi- 
nance preventing  the  obstruction  of  the  sidewalk,  hop- 
ing in  that  way  to  stop  the  Crusade.  But  the  ladies, 
getting  a hint  of  it,  changed  their  tactics,  and  went  out 
in  small  companies. 

Enthusiastic  mass-meetings  were  held — young  men’s 
meetings,  young  ladies’  meetings,  and  daily  prayer- 
meetings — and  a public  sentiment  was  aroused  that 
would  have  closed  every  rum-shop  in  the  town  if  they 
had  not  been  sustained  by  ofiflcial  influence. 

Richmond  is  the  home  of  Mr.  Baxter,  originator  of 
the  Baxter  law. 

The  women  continue  their  work,  adopting  various 
methods,  and  are  waiting  and  praying  for  the  victory. 


398 


CRUSADE  AT  OTHER  TOWNS. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  Crusade  was  carried  on  in  the  following  towns 
of  Indiana,  with  more  or  less  success:  Fort  Wayne, 
New  Albany,  Dunkirk,  Portland,  Muncy,  Frankfort, 
Columbus,  Buffton,  Kokoma,  South  Bend,  Valparaiso, 
Lawrenceburgh,  Union  City,  Terre  Haute,  Greenfield, 
Bedford,  Lafayette,  Logansport,  Warsaw,  Wabash, 
Franklin. 


ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS. 

Early  in  March,  1874,  it  was  announced  that  the 
city  council  had  determined  to  repeal  the  law  requiring 
saloon-keepers  to  close  their  doors  on  the  Sabbath 
day.  Petitions  against  the  repeal  of  the  law  were  ex- 
tensively circulated,  and  the  moral  sentiment  of  the 
city  thoroughly  aroused. 

A meeting  was  called  for  the  next  Monday  after- 
noon, March  i6th,  at  Clark  Street  M.  E.  Church.  The 
house  was  packed  to  Its  utmost  capacity,  the  front  seats 
in  the  gallery  being  filled  with  saloon-keepers.  Many 
ministers  were  on  the  platform.  Mrs.  Wirts  called  the 
meeting  to  order,  and  Mrs.  Rev.  Moses  Smith  was 
elected  chairman.  There  was  deep  interest.  One 
present  says  : “ The  intensity  of  feeling  was  something 
to  be  felt,  but  can  never  be  described.”  During  the 
devotional  exercises  every  Christian  heart  realized 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  present. 

The  first  business  of  the  meeting  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  a committee  of  fifty  to  present  the  petition  to 
the  common  council.  Mrs.  Rev.  Moses  Smith  and 
fifty  others  were  designated  to  visit  the  council  chamber. 

(399) 


400 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


Mrs,  Smith  gives  the  following  particulars  of  this 
visit : 

“About  seven  o’clock,  when  the  streets  were  com- 
paratively quiet,  we  formed  in  procession  and  marched 
silently  to  the  council  chamber.  On  reaching  the  hall, 
the  door  was  found  locked,  and  guarded  by  a drunken 
janitor,  armed  with  a revolver  and  dirk.  Rev.  Arthur 
Mitchell,  D,  D.,  and  Rev.  Arthur  Edw^ards,  D.  D.,  who 
had  greatly  aided  in  the  afternoon  meeting,  came  to  our 
aid,  and  succeeded  in  getting  the  door  unlocked,  and 
with  their  own  hands  lighted  the  gas.  As  many  of  the 
ladies  as  could  be  seated  passed  in  to  await  the  com- 
ing of  the  council,  while  the  others  returned  to  the 
church. 

“At  eight  o’clock  the  council  came  to  order,  and  the 
clerk  announced  the  first  business  on  the  docket  to  be 
the  final  vote  on  the  repeal  of  the  Sunday  law.  Then 
ensued  a stru^orle  : the  more  reckless  were  determined 

oo 

to  repeal  the  law  before  the  ladies’  petitions  could  be 
presented ; others,  even  of  the  rum  party,  with  an  eye 
to  future  elections,  favored  making  the  listening  to  the 
petition  the  first  business  in  order.  After  a long  dis- 
cussion, the  motion  prevailed  to  listen  to  the  petition, 

“ In  the  meantime  a mob  had  gathered  around  the 
building,  pressing  through  the  long  corridors  even  into 
the  council  chamber.  There  was  hooting  and  yelling, 
and  throwing  of  bricks,  and  threats  from  some  of  the 
more  desperate.” 

After  the  presentation  of  the  petition,  hlrs.  Moses 
Smith  was  permitted  to  address  the  council.  She  said: 
'' Gentlemen  of  the  Common  Council:  We  came  not  here 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


401 


to  address  you.  We  desire  not  to  take  one  moment 
of  your  time.  We  come  with  a petition  bearing  the 
names  of  16,000  women,  and  we  feel  that  we  represent 
the  women  of  the  city,  and  that  we  represent  the  cause 
of  righteousness  and  of  God ; and  we  feel,  too,  that  we 
are  the  power  behind  the  throne,  which  may  be  felt  at 
another  election,  though  it  was  not  at  the  last.  We 
only  entreat  you  in  the  name  of  our  Father  in  heaven, 
and  as  you  have  the  personal  responsibility  before  you, 
not  to  open  the  saloons  to  our  young  men  and  to  our 
children  on  God’s  day.” 

Mrs.  Smith  was  escorted  from  the  building  by  Dr. 
Mitchell,  preceded  by  an  armed  policeman. 

She  says : “ The  moment  I stepped  out  of  the  room 
an  infuriated  yell  went  up  that  fairly  shook  the  building.” 
Saloon-keepers  had  offered  free  rum  to  all  who  would 
join  the  mob.  Although  several  thousand  of  the  most 
desperate  men  in  the  city  were  gathered  in  that  surg- 
ing, hissing  crowd,  the  ladies  passed  through  and 
returned  to  the  church  without  any  serious  injury. 
Regardless  of  the  petition,  the  law  was  repealed,  but 
the  mob  had  done  more  for  the  cause  of  temperance 
than  the  granting  of  the  petition  could  have  done. 

We  give  the  following  detailed  account  from  the 
Chicago  Times,  of  March  17th; 

“It  was  well  the  ladies  proceeded  at  an  early  hour  to 
the  council  chamber,  though  this  precaution  entailed 
upon  them  nearly  three  hours’  wait.  As  soon  as  they 
had  been  admitted,  the  rabble  began  to  gather  on  the 
outside,  blocking  up  all  the  avenues  of  approach. 
Adams  street  was  crowded  by,  perhaps,  the  most  ruf- 
26 


402 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


fianly  crowd  ever  gathered  in  the  city — a crowd  in 
duty  bound  to  insult  everybody  bearing  the  semblance 
of  a lady.  It  had  been  gathered  from  the  saloons  and 
slums  of  the  city  to  give  the  bummer  aldermen  a 
moral  support.  The  leaders  had  sent  out  the  com- 
mand: ‘Rally  your  forces;  we  must  counteract  the 
influence  of  the  women.’  Accordingly,  every  saloon 
had  stood  treat  to  all  the  dead-beats  who  would  ordi- 
narily be  ordered  out  of  the  place,  on  condition  that 
they  would  make  ‘ Rome  howl ! ’ about  the  city  hall. 
The  move  was  a complete  success,  and  a more  un- 
mannerly and  disgraceful  mob  never  outraged  pro- 
priety and  threatened  the  peace  of  the  city.  As  soon 
as  the  council  chamber  was  filled,  the  corridors  were 
crowded  with  a filth-reekino^  crowd.  The  doors  were 
slammed  in  their  faces,  and  then  a howl  of  indignation 
arose,  that  made  the  old  rookery  shake  from  its  foun- 
dations to  the  skylights.  As  often  as  a vote  resulted 
in  favor  of  the  bummers,  the  news  was  conveyed  to 
the  mob,  and  the  most  unearthly  yells  would  be  sent 
up,  reverberating  through  the  council  chamber  to  the 
stopping  of  all  business. 

“ The  air  within  was  stifling,  and  frequently  ladies 
would  beg  escorts  from  Captain  Buckley  to  seek  the 
open  air.  Such  requests  were  always  granted,  but  it 
was  almost  as  much  as  their  lives  were  worth  for  the 
ladies  to  work  their  way  through  the  mob.  As  soon 
as  the  doors  opened  to  pass  them,  the  crowd  in  the 
corridors,  getting  sight  of  a bonnet,  would  break  out 
in  cheers,  yells,  hoots,  groans,  and  cat-calls.  This  sort 
of  thing  was  kept  up  until  the  lady  reached  the  street, 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


403 


and  there  the  cries  would  be  taken  up  by  the  rabble 
outside,  and  the  lady  would  generally  be  accompanied 
by  a mob  of  several  thousand,  a block  or  two,  all  yell- 
ing like  demons  possessed.  A number  of  ladies 
fainted  during-  the  ordeal.  These  diversions  were  of 
frequent  occurrence,  and  the  shouting  and  yelling 
were  interminable  during  the  whole  time  that  the 
ladies  were  in  the  council  chamber.  But  the  closing 
scene  was  the  most  disgraceful  of  all. 

“It  was  the  most  outrageous  proceeding  ever  wit- 
nessed in  a civilized  community.  It  must  now  be 
counted  among  the  other  delusions  dispelled  in  this 
age,  that  men,  no  matter  in  what  position  in  life,  enter- 
tain a natural  regard  for  the  fair  sex.  The  mob  on 
last  evening  completely  refuted  this  flattering  unction. 
Savages  would  have  shown  more  respect  to  captive 
Amazons.  When  the  vote  on  the  whiskey  ordinance 
was  declared  carried,  the  ladies  rose  to  depart.  A 
posse  of  police  then  proceeded  to  break  a way 
through  the  crowd.  Having  succeeded  in  this  difficult 
task,  the  ladies  filed  out  of  the  hall  between  two  rows 
of  officers.  On  either  side  stood  a glaring  mob — a 
^shouting,  a groaning,  a hooting,  a demoniac  mob. 
The  most  obscene  phrases  were  bandied  about ; the 
foulest  epithets  were  applied.  Women  passing  along 
the  corridors  through  this  lane  of  filth,  hid  their  faces 
in  their  hands  ; dropped  their  veils ; shrank  within 
themselves;  hurried  forward  on  the  run;  stopped 
sometimes  as  if  ready  to  sink,  but  gathering  renewed 
strength,  started  forward  again,  pressed  by  the  ladies 
behind  them,  all  eager  to  reach  the  open  air. 


404 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


“ But  when  the  open  air  was  gained,  the  situation  in 
nowise  improved.  Egress  was  had  by  the  door  in  the 
rear  leading  to  the  alley  next  to  the  Grand  Pacific. 
Thousands  were  crammed  into  this  space — a howling 
menagerie.  The  police  cleared  the  sidewalk,  but  the 
crowd  lined  the  verge,  and  poured  a volley  of  blas- 
phemy and  obscenity  at  the  procession  of  ladies. 
When  La  Salle  street  was  reached,  other  thousands 
were  awaiting  their  approach,  and  these  howled  even 
louder  than  those  who  greeted  them  in  the  alley. 
The  noise  was  positively  hideous,  and  this  hooting, 
yelling,  blasphemous  mob,  of  five  thousand  roughs, 
the  very  offscourings  of  the  saloons,  flanked  and  fol- 
lowed them  clear  to  the  door  of  the  church.  Jostling 
them  on  the  way ; spitting  tobacco  juice  on  their 
dresses ; pulling  at  their  chignons ; in  some  cases 
tripping  them  up  ; knocking  off  the  hats  of  their  es- 
corts,— brothers,  husbands,  or  sons, — giving  the  latter 
kicks,  cuffs,  and  digs  in  the  ribs ; and  all  the  while  the 
hooting,  yelling,  howling  continued,  and  not  infre- 
quently members  of  the  procession  would  sink  to  the 
ground,  swooning  from  very  fright. 

“ It  was  a terrible  ordeal  these  ladies  were  compelled 
to  pass.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  never  before,  in  this 
country,  did  an  equally  respectable  body  of  ladies  re- 
ceive such  brutal  treatment.  The  rage  of  the  mob 
following  the  cart  of  Marie  Antoinette  to  the  guillotine 
was  not  more  demoniac,  and  probably  far  more  cour- 
teous. For  much  of  this,  that  low-bred  demagogue — 
Hesing’s  henchman — Jack  Rehm,  superintendent  of 
police,  is  responsible.  The  ladies  called  on  him  for 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


405 


protection,  and  he  refused  it ; the  mob  ruled  in  the 
very  head-quarters  of  the  police.  This  bummer,  with 
the  star  of  the  chief,  was  in  league  with  the  rabble ; he 
was  a party  to  the  plot  to  congregate  all  the  scum  of 
the  city  hall ; no  pretence  at  order  made  on  the  out- 
side; the  ’police,  as  they  say  in  Paris,  ‘fraternized’ 
with  the  mob ; they  knew  which  side  the  powers  that 
be  were  on.” 

So  far  from  intimidating  the  women  of  Chicago,  it 
made  them  a thousand  times  more  determined. 
Perhaps  many  of  them  were  not  aware,  up  to  that 
time,  of  the  hideousness  of  the  rum  power,  and  the 
degradation  and  vileness  of  its  votaries.  Their  eyes 
are  opened.  They  see  they  have  a giant  to  fight,  and 
yet  it  is  not  for  them  to  fight ; this  wonderful  move- 
ment is  all  of  God,  in  answer'  to  pi'ayer.  Millions  of 
prayers  are  going  up  to  God,  and  a wonderful  spiritual 
influence  in  answer  to  these  prayers  is  being  poured 
out  upon  the  people  of  all  lands.  The  temperance 
question  is  on  the  crest  of  this  wonderful  tidal  wave. 

The  Chicago  Tribune  and  Northwestern  Christian 
Advocate  give  substantially  the  same  account,  and 
unite  to  deplore  and  condemn  the  affair  as  a disgrace- 
ful outrage  on  decency  and  propriety. 

ORIGIN  OF  CHICAGO  DAILY  TEMPERANCE  PRAYER- 

MEETING. 

After  the  visit  to  the  mayor,  rejection  of  petition, 
mob  procession,  etc.,  the  temperance  women  of 
Chicago  did  not  lose  heart.  They  maintained  a daily 
prayer-meeting  in  the  lecture-room  of  Clark  Street  M.  E. 


4o6  crusade  at  Chicago. 

Church,  at  which  numbers  of  drinking  men  signed  the 
pledge,  and  sought  “ the  Lord  behind  the  pledge,”  as 
one  of  them  expressed  it.  During  the  frightful  heat 
of  that  summer,  the  attendance  fell  off  sometimes. 
Mrs.  O.  B.  Wilson,  the  President,  a plethoric  lady,  in 
feeble  health,  and  past  the  prime  of  life,  would  ride 
miles  in  the  street  cars,  from  her  home  on  one  of  the 
south  side  avenues,  to  the  place  of  meeting  in  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  meeting  there  but  one  other  lady, 
and  she  from  a distance  equally  great  on  the  north 
side  of  the  city.  At  last,  for  a few  weeks,  the  meeting 
was  relinquished.  When  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard, 
who  had  just  entered  the  temperance  work,  and  been 
made  President  of  the  Chicas^o  Union,  returned  from 
old  Orchard  Beach,  with  the  fresh  enthusiasm  and  faith 
stimulated  by  that  meeting,  she,  with  Mrs.  Louise  S. 
Rounds,  her  special  friend  and  coadjutor,  proposed  the 
re-establishment  of  the  daily  gospel  meeting.  They 
laid  their  plans  before  the  ladies  at  the  regular  meet- 
ing, and  advocated  giving  more  publicity  to  the  effort, 
and  especially  the  effort  to  secure  attendance  of  the 
drinking,  swearing,  “elbow  heathen”  of  the  streets. 
They  proposed  circulating  a little  hand-bill  of  invita- 
tion, putting  out  a sign  with  “ Everybody  welcome  ! 
Come  and  sign  the  pledge!”  and  also  placing  notices 
in  the  daily  papers.  The  debate  was  long  and  ani- 
mated. Some  of  the  ladies  said,  “ You’ve  seen  how 
difficult,  almost  impossible  it  is  to  sustain  any.  sort  ot  a 
meetine.  A failure  will  be  disastrous,  and  we  cannot 
hope  to  succeed.”  Others  said  to  Miss  Willard,  who 
gave  all  her  time  to  the  office,  “ You’ll  have  to  conduct 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


^07 

the  meeting"  all  alone ; and  though  profitable  to  you, 
it  will  not  fulfil  what  you  are  aiming  at,  for  if  nobody 
comes,  you  surely  cannot  reach  the  masses.”  But 
at  last,  by  a small  majority,  the  proposition  carried. 

Miss  Willard,  in  the  simplicity  of  her  heart,  went  to 
Miss  Cushing,  Librarian  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and 
obtained  her  promise  that  if  the  prediction  came  true, 
and  she  found  herself  absolutely  without  any  one  to 
kneel  beside  her  in  prayer.  Miss  Cushing  might  be 
called  upon  to  help  her  “ keep  up  the  meeting.” 

But  this  exigency  never  arose.  The  first  day  seven 
were  present,  the  majority  of  them  drinking  men. 
Rapidly  the  numbers  increased,  until  the  office,  which, 
by  packing,  wmuld  hold  forty,  was  crowded,  and  the 
doorway  and  hall.  Then  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  gave  the 
use  of  lower  Farwell  Hall  (where  their  noon  meeting 
is  held)  and  the  attendance  grew  until  two,  three,  and 
four  hundred  would  convene  at  three  p.  m.  daily. 

Humanly  speaking,  the  elements  of  success  were; 
Dauntless  determination;  thorouMi  advertisinof  of 
meeting  and  persistently  keeping  it  before  the  public 
— large  placards  of  welcome,  hand-bills  circulated  on 
the  streets,  notices  of  the  press;  accounts  of  the  occur- 
rences at  the  meeting,  as  well  as  mere  announcement; 
having  it  accessible — in  heart  of  city,  downstairs,  level 
of  street,  good  lively  music  and  excellent  instrumental 
accompaniment;  regularly-appointed  leaders  (the  week 
beforehand,  so  they  could  prepare),  going  into  reading- 
room  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  daily  inviting  the  loungers 
there,  with  utmost  kindness,  to  attend. 

Mrs.  L.  S.  Rounds,  Corresponding  Secretary,  gives 


4o8 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


the  followinof  account  of  the  work  during  the  last 

o o 

year: 

“Since  the  ist  of  October,  1876, 1 have  had  charge  of 
the  work.  W e have  a membership  of  about  seventy-five. 
Our  daily  temperance  prayer-meeting  is  the  feature  of 
our  work.  Held  in  the  very  centre  of  the  city,  we  have 
had,  since  the  above  date,  an  average  daily  attendance 
through  the  winter  of  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  dur- 
ing these  past  summer  weeks  an  average  attendance 
daily  of  eighty-five  to  one  hundred. 

“These  meetinofs  are  held  from  three  to  four  each 
day,  Sundays  excepted — always  led  by  some  lady, 
excepting  a few  weeks  during  the  winter,  when  the 
meetings  were  led  by  Brother  Sawyer,  Mr.  IMoody’s 
co-laborer. 

“The  influence  oroing  out  from  these  meetings  is  felt 
in  all  the  surrounding  States,  and  letters  come  to  us 
nearly  every  day  from  persons  who  have  been  helped 
by  them.  At  the  close  of  each  meeting  the  pledge  is 
presented, 

“Besides  this  daily  meeting,  we  have  weekly  meetings 
under  our  auspices,  at  the  following  points: 

^^Bethel  Home,  where  a meeting  has  been  sustained 
about  three  years.  There  a mighty  work  has  been 
done:  thousayids  passing  through  the  Home  have  been 
in  our  meetings,  possibly,  only  once — others  several 
times,  and  the  seed  thus  sown  has  fallen  upon  many  a 
poor,  weary  heart.  The  Superintendent  of  the  Home 
says  that  about  twenty  thousand  persons  pass  through 
the  Home  yearly.  The  larger  portion  of  these  come 
into  our  meetings.  They  are  poor  wanderers,  going 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


409 


up  and  down  in  the  world,  seeking  work,  rest,  and 
homes.  The  most  of  them  are  drinking  men.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  .promising  points  of  our  work,  and 
thousands  of  these  poor  outcasts  have  signed  the 
pledge  here* and  begun  a better  life. 

'‘■Bttrr  Mission  is  also  a grand  field  for  labor — a hard 
one,  but  all  the  more  blessed,  because  of  the  joy  it 
gives  of  seeing  the  cross  of  Christ  win  its  way  in  the 
worst  of  places.  Earnest  Christian  women  have  stood 
firm  at  their  post  here,  and  God  has  blessed  them  won- 
derfully. Hundreds  have  signed  the  pledge.  Much 
house-to-house  visiting  is  being  done  here,  with  blessed 
results. 

“ Twenty-fifth  street  and  Portland  avemie  is  another 
point  where  we  have  planted  our  temperance  work. 
Here  we  have  much  help  from  Christian  men  and 
women  living  in  the  neighborhood. 

221  West  Madison  street  we  have  another  point 
of  work.  This  meeting  has  only  been  in  progress 
a few  months,  and  yet  the  interest  is  remarkable,  and 
much  good  is  being  done.  Many  Christians  attend 
this  meeting,  held  every  Monday  night. 

And  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  we  have  a new 
point  of  work  in  the  extreme  south  part  of  the  city,  in 
the  midst  of  a drinking  class  of  people,  called — 

“ Our  Forty-seventh  Street  Work.  A gospel  temper- 
ance meeting  was  started  here  about  six  weeks  ago,  a 
hall  secured,  and  meetings  held  tzvice  every  week. 
The  entire  neighborhood  seems  aroused.  Some  oppo- 
sition was  met  with  at  first,  but  the  whiskey  men  are 
finding  out  that  we  have  come  to  stay.  A noble 


410 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


Christian  man,  under  the  direction  of  our  Union,  has 
charge  of  the  work,  and  we  send  speakers  and  watch 
its  interests.  At  every  meeting  large  numbers  sign 
the  pledge.  The  work  here  promises  grand  things. 

♦ 

SUMMARY  OF  WORK. 

“The  Chicago  Union  holds,  eveiy  week,  twelve  gospel 
temperance  meetings.  At  all  of  these,  the  pledge  is 
presented,  and  the  Saviour  offered  as  the  Physician 
for  sin-sick  souls.  At  all  of  these  meetings  an  oppor- 
tunity is  given  for  any  one  to  present  requests  for 
prayers  either  for  himself  or  for  friends,  and  also  to 
give  testimony  as  to  what  the  Lord  is  doing  for  him. 

“No  reformed  man  is  allowed  to  take  part  in  our 
meetings  who  ignores  Christ’s  power  to  save,  or 
scorns  His  help,  no  matter  how  good  a temperance 
man  he  may  be.  We  never  run  in  debt.  It  is  an 
understood  rule  that  we  shall  never  go  beyond  the 
means  in  hand.  Clinmnor  to  this,  we  found  ourselves 
one  day  with  only  forty-five  cents  in  the  treasury,  but 
all  bills  were  paid,  and  before  others  came  in  the  Lord 
supplied  our  needs. 

“Not  one  dime  from  our  treasury  goes  to  relief  work. 
In  a great  city  like  this,  constantly  running  the  risk  of 
being  imposed  on  by  untruthful  and  indolent  people, 
we  saw  the  wisdom  of  adopting  this  rule,  and  have 
adhered  to  it  strictly.  We  find  that  those  we  help  the 
least,  materially,  do  the  best  for  themselves,  and  this  is 
a fact  worthy  of  consideration.  Much  of  the  so-called 
charity  of  the  world  is  but  adding  fuel  to  the  fire 
which  is  burning  out  our  social  life.  Every  man 


CRUSADE  AT  CHICAGO. 


41  I 

ought  to  be  taught  that  he  must  depend  upon  God 
and  himself. 

“Our  temperance  women  cannot  learn  the  lesson  too 
soon,  that  there  is  no  end  to  the  long  procession  who 
care  more  for  the  bread  that  perisheth,  than  for  that 
of  eternal  life. 

“Our  objective  point  is  the  uplifting  of  public  senti- 
ment. Pulling  drunkards  out  of  the  gutter  is  good 
work,  but  to  keep  them  from  getting  in  is  better. 
Our  hope  is  in  the  children.  To  this  end  the  juvenile 
work  interests  us  much.  In  nearly  all  the  evangelical 
Sunday-schools  of  the  city,  we  have  introduced  a 
review  lesson  on  Temperance,  prepared  by  Miss  Kim- 
ball, the  chairman  of  that  department.  It  has  proved 
ve7y  acceptable ; and  Sunday-schools  out  in  the  towns 
and  villages  in  the  State  have  sent  to  us  for  it. 

“God  give  us  the  children  for  Christ  and  temperance, 
is  our  cry;  and  we  hear  Him  say,  ‘According  to  your 
faith  be  it  done  unto  you.’ 

“To-day,  at  the  close  of  this  hot  August  month,  with 
the  fall  and  winter  work  close  upon  us,  our  Chicago 
Union  stands  bravely  at  the  front,  where,  thank  God, 
she  has  always  stood. 

“To  recapitulate: 

“We  hold  twelve  gospel  tempei^ance  meetings  every 
week,  counting  in  our  six  daily  meetings,  the  attend- 
ance of  which  yesterday  was  120,  averaging  daily 
from  80  to  100!  Our  regular  business  meeting  every 
week.  During  the  past  eleven  months  (first  three  of 
which  is  in  the  last  report),  between  1,500  and  1,600 
have  signed  the  pledge;  and  we  feel  safe  in  saying 


412  CRUSADE  AT  JACKSONVILLE. 

that  there  have  been  from  three  to  five  hundred  con- 
versions. May  God  continue  to  bless  the  temperance 
cause,  and  to  Him  be  all  the  glory.” 

JACKSONVILLE,  ILLINOIS. 

After  an  all-day  prayer-meeting,  the  women  were 
invited  to  meet  and  organize,  which  they  did  on  March 
1 6th,  1874,  enrolling  at  the  first  meeting  200  names, 
as  workers.  They  caused  to  be  placed  on  record,  the 
following  solemn  statement:  “We  now  buckled  on 
the  armor,  and  go  forward;  there  is  no  retreat,  no 
failure;  we  do  not  expect  to  lay  down  our  armor 
until  life’s  work  is  done.  Our  motto  is,  Jehovah  nisi: 
the  Lord  my  banner;  and  with  this  unfurled,  floating 
in  the  air — which  is  wafted  from  the  heavens  above  us 
— we  go  forth  to  conquer  for  Him  who  gave  His  life 
for  us.” 

A pledge  was  drawn  up,  and  circulated  among  the 
druggists,  to  which  most  of  them  signed  their  names. 
Committees  were  appointed  to  visit  the  owners  of  the 
buildings  where  saloons  were  kept,  hoping,  as  nearly 
all  were  church  members,  they  would  be  convinced  of 
the  wrong  they  were  doing.  Total  abstinence  pledges 
were  circulated  throughout  the  city,  and  over  two 
thousand  names  were  enrolled  on  the  pledge  books. 

One  day,  a member  of  the  Union,  seeing  a man 
come  out  of  a saloon,  said,  with  a kind  look,  “ My 
friend,  you  do  not  frequent  the  saloon  at  such  a time 
as  this?”  He  answered,  “I  have  done  so.”  After 
some  conversation,  they  separated;  he  went  home  and 
related-  the  circumstance  to  his  wife,  and  expressed  a 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSONVILLE. 


413 


willingness  to  sign  the  pledge.  The  wife  found  out 
the  name  of  the  lady,  visited  her  and  urged  her  to 
present  the  pledge  to  her  husband,  which  she  did. 
The  man  wrote  his  name  to  the  pledge,  declaring 
solemnly  that  he  would  never  break  it;  and  has  kept 
it  faithfully,  and  taken  a stand  on  the  Lord’s  side,  and 
united  with  one  of  the  churches. 

A man  came  into  the  meeting  one  day,  who  seemed 
very  much  affected  and  interested.  He  said  he  lived 
eight  miles  from  the  town,  was  in  the  habit  of  drinking, 
and  had  been  for  thirty  years ; as  he  was  coming  into 
town,  his  wife  wished  him  to  attend  the  meeting  where 
they  prayed  for  those  who  wanted  to  be  free  from  the 
bondage  of  drink,  so  instead  of  going  to  the  saloon,  he 
went  to  the  prayer-meeting. 

Not  long  afterwards,  while  the  women  were  praying 
before  a saloon,  a wagon  stopped,  and  the  occupants 
desired  to  see  some  of  the  women  ; it  was  the  man 
j’ust  mentioned,  with  his  family.  They  all  wanted  to  sign 
the  pledge ; the  shadow  had  been  lifted,  they  had  now 
a happy  home,  the  man  had  reformed. 

Mrs.  L.  H.  Washington,  who  was  the  President  of 
the  Union  at  that  time,  says: 

“We  met  daily,  asking  our  Father  to  lead  us,  and 
use  us  against  the  evil,  which  threatened  all  that  was 
precious  in  life.  We  did  this,  however,  in  the  begin- 
ning, without  any  expectation  of  going  into  the  saloons. 
For  myself,  I had  an  abhorrence  of  drinking-places, 
from  which  happily  my  father,  brothers  and  husband, 
had  kept  aloof.” 

After  two  weeks  of  daily  meetings,  we  began  to  visit 
he  saloons. 


414 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSONVILLE. 


Our  band,  which  commenced  whh  five,  soon  num- 
bered seventy-five.  We  were  almost  invariably  treated 
with  respect,  not  that  the  saloonists  were  glad  of  our 
company,  but  they  knew  that  their  only  hope  of  main- 
taining their  position  and  business  was  in  appearing 
as  much  like  gentlemen  as  they  knew  how. 

There  were  some  exceptions  to  courteous  treatment, 
generally  from  those  under  the  influence  of  liquor. 
One  saloon-keeper,  who  was  much  intoxicated,  seized 
a gun,  and  aimed  it  at  the  women,  but  it  was  wrested 
from  him,  by  his  patrons.  When  sober  he  always 
invited  us  in,  (we  did  not  enter  without  permission,) 
and  frequently  followed  to  other  saloons  with  apparent 
interest.  Another  saloon-keeper,  also  intoxicated,  said: 
“ What  do  you  bring  your  Jesus  here  for?  take  Him 
to  the  church,  and  crucify  Him  there.  You  are  working 
for  money,  any  way.” 

We  immediately  acknowledged  that  we  had  received 
nearly  a thousand  dollars  to  open  a pleasant  free  read- 
ing room,  where  all  were  invited,  and  we  wanted  all 
who  worked  for  money  to  take  good  care  of  it,  and 
make  their  homes  pleasant,  and  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren happy,  and  we  urged  all  to  come  and  partake  of 
the  “water  of  life  freely,  without  money,  and  without 
price.” 

One  of  the  most  deeply  solemn  prayer-meetings  I 
ever  attended,  was  held  in  a saloon,  by  appointment, 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  proprietor.  Intelligence 
and  wealth,  ignorance  and  poverty,  were  represented 
in  the  band.  Anguished  hearts  were  laid  bare;  wrongs 
and  solicitudes  which  had  been  carefully  covered  over 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSONVILLE. 


415 


for  years,  awakened  ready  sympathy,  and  all  clasped 
hands  ag^ainst  a common  foe. 

Saloon  patronage  was  greatly  reduced ; many  unac- 
customed to  attend  church,  on  invitation  came,  and 
some  were  gathered  into  the  fold. 

It  was  almost  the  universal  opinion,  that  with  the 
burning  eye  of  public  sentiment  turned  upon  the  liquor 
traffic,  it  must  go  down.  The  saloonists  were  evidently 
trembling,  not  so  much  at  the  power  of  God  whom 
they  did  not  fear,  as  at  the  power  of  the  earthly  counsel, 
from  whom  they  bought  silence  and  favor,  by  paying 
I500  per  annum.  So  insecure  did  they  feel,  and  so  low 
had  their  patronage  been  reduced,  that  they  did  not 
replenish  their  stock. 

One  liquor  agent,  who,  when  he  visited  the  city, 
usually  sold  from  ^1,500  to  ^2,500  worth  of  liquors  to 
the  drug  stores  and  saloons,  stated,  that  he  could  not 
sell  one  dollar’s  worth.  We  afterwards  learned  that 
he  came  into  our  daily  meeting  to  see  what  the  women 
were  doing,  to  so  interfere  with  his  business. 

I was  ridingr-  in  the  cars  one  niffiit.  We  reached  the 
city  of  Peoria  about  midnight.  This  city  is  noted  for  its 
whiskey  making,  and  a man  entered,  and  engaged  in 
conversation  with  a passenger,  from  which  I learned, 
they  were  both  engaged  in  the  liquor  business. 

“ Times  are  dull,  dull,”  was  the  salutation  that  passed 
between  them.  A pocket  flask  was  produced,  and  the 
quality  of  its  contents  tested  with  evident  relish, 

“Doesn’t  it  beat  the  devil?  You  can’t  sell  whiskey 
in  these  days.”  (I  thought  myself,  that  the  devil  was 
badly  beaten.) 


41  6 CRUSADE  AT  JACKSONVILLE. 

“Where  have  you  been  this  round?” 

Several  places  were  indicated. 

“ Did  you  stop  at  Jacksonville?” 

“Yes,  but  they’ve  got  a Crusade  and  a revival,  too, 
and  there’s  no  use  to  try  to  sell  there.” 

“Thincrs  look  rather  dark.” 

o 

“ I think  they  do : Why,  there  are  30,000  barrels  of 
whiskey  in  the  bonded  warehouses  of  Peoria,  to-day, 

and  no  sale  to  speak  of.  B ’s  distillery'  must  shut 

down,  if  times  don’t  brighten.  Why  if  this  thing  keeps 
on  three  months  longer,  every  whiskey  man  in  the 
country  will  be  busted.” 

Alas ! that  the  adversary  of  souls  should  have  so 
many  allies,  and  one  so  powerful  in  the  love  of  money. 

In  our  city,  many  who  commended  crusading,  and 
were  loud  in  their  praises,  and  hoped  the  women  would 
not  give  up,  when  the  time  came  for  voting,  failed  to 
back  their  praises  with  their  votes.  “Temperance 
work,”  they  said,  “ was  a Christian  work,  a work  of 
moral  suasion,  and  since  men  would  drink,  it  was  best 
and  safest  to  make  them  pay  for  it.”  And  so  they 
bargained  for  the  evil,  which  their  wives  prayed  to 
prevent,  and  hindered  the  good  work. 

We  were  cast  down,  but  not  altogether  discour- 
aged. We  wept,  it  is  true,  but  had  not  our  Master 
wept  over  Jerusalem?  Jerusalem  was  destroyed,  but 
His  blessed  cause  lives,  and  the  light  then  overshad- 
owed, is  brightening  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth. 

I learn  from  the  records  that  on  April  9th  the  fol- 
lowing petition  was  prepared ; 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCKFORD. 


417 


“71?  the  Honorable,  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  the 

City  of  Jacksonville  : 

“The  undersigned,  residents  of  Jacksonville,  re- 
spectfully ask  that  no  license  to  retail  intoxicating 
drinks  shall  be  granted  by  the  city  of  Jacksonville. 
To  you  who  have  full  power  to  grant  or  deny  our 
prayer  we  appeal  as  mothers,  wives,  daughters,  sisters, 
to  aid  in  preventing  a traffic  that  causes  evil,  and  only 
evil,  and  by  which  our  sex  and  young  children  are  the 
greatest  sufferers.” 

This  petition  was  circulated,  and  the  names  of  1,650 
women  annexed,  and  presented  to  the  council  at  their 
first  meeting  by  a committee  appointed  by  the  Union. 
This  petition  was  placed,  by  vote  of  said  council,  in 
the  hands  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
ordinances,  where  it  slept,  with  naught  to  disturb  its 
repose,  until  its  resurrection  by  the  Union  a year 
afterwards.  It  is  now  nicely  rolled  up  and  occupies  a 
place  with  the  records  kept  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
temperance  society. 

And  yet,  with  all  these  discouragements,  the  Secre- 
tary, Mrs.  E.  J.  Bancroft,  records  the  purpose  of  the 
society  in  the  following  tender  words : 

“Let  us,  members  of  the  Union,  keep  heart  to 
heart,  having  charity  among  ourselves  as  to  ways  and 
means  of  doing-  good.  Work  and  wait,  looking  to  Him 
who  gave  the  cause  into  our  hands — the  burden  into 
our  hearts.” 

ROCKFORD,  ILLINOIS. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  S.  M.  I.  Henry,  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  for  the  following  facts : 

27 


4i8 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCKFORD. 


The  city  of  Rockford,  Illinois,  on  the  Rock  river,  has 
had  rather  a remarkable  history.  About  twenty  years 
ago  its  numerous  Christian  counsellors  set  themselves 
to  frame  a municipal  law  for  the  liquor  traffic,  which, 
while  it  licensed,  should  at  the  same  time  prohibit;  and 
the  government  was  run  on  this  double-faced  principle 
for  a series  of  years,  during  which  manufactories  multi- 
plied, homes  were  built  after  the  most  luxurious  style, 
churches  were  erected  until  they  stood  one  for  every 
thousand  of  her  population,  schools  were  perfected, 
and  her  youth  grew  up  and  entered  business,  and 
reared  houses  of  their  own  ; when  it  suddenly  ap- 
peared to  the  women  that  their  proud  and  beautiful 
city  had  a saloon  for  every  church,  and  more  than 
matched  the  church  in  point  of  influence. 

Under  the  terrible  pressure  of  facts,  the  women 
came  together,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1874,  and  organ- 
ized a Woman’s  Temperance  Union,  having  but  the 
one  object,  of  saving  the  men  of  our  city  from  the 
curse  of  rum.  The  wife  of  the  mayor,  Mrs.  Gilbert 
Woodruff,  was  made  the  President  of  this  organiza- 
tion, with  a Vice-President  from  every  church  in  the 
city.  Mrs.  S.  M.  I.  Henry  was  elected  Secretary,  and 
Mrs.  H.  W.  Carpenter,  Treasurer. 

Thoroughly  organized,  the  Union  began  its  work — 
holding  public  meetings,  canvassing  the  city  with 
pledges  and  petitions,  studying  the  laws  of  the  State 
and  city,  looking  up  the  city  records  for  facts  to  be 
used  in  public  and  private;  and,  greater  than  any  of 
these,  imploring  the  God  of  heaven  daily  for  relief 
from  the  death-grip  of  this  enemy.  The  pledges 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCKFORD: 


419 


were  signed  by  a good  proportion  of  the  temperance 
people,  and  a few  drinkers. 

The  petition  to  the  council,  not  to  grant  licenses,  was 
signed  by  2,325  women,  1,357  irien,  over  age,  and  was 
presented  to  the  council  by  twenty-one  ladies — and 
was  not  granted.  We  worked  on  one  year,  without 
any  apparent  result — passed  the  anniversary,  and  be- 
gan the  second  year  with  nothing  but  faith.  By  very 
great  efforts,  we  raised  the  means  to  secure  the  ser- 
vices of  Francis  Murphy,  who  came  to  Rockford,  about 
the  loth  of  April,  1875.  The  people  thronged  to  hear 
him,  and  thus  became  interested  in  the  idea  and  fact 
of  reformation  for  the  drunkard.  Some  hard  drinkers 
signed  the  pledge  at  his  meetings,  who  have  stood  true 
until  now. 

Just  before  Mr.  Murphy  came,  the  business  men  who 
were  in  sympathy  with  our  work  organized  an  alliance, 
which  is  still  in  good,  substantial  working  order,  and  is 
a power  in  our  city. 

In  July,  750  of  our  Union  opened  rooms  for  tem- 
perance gospel  work,  and  Mrs.  Henry,  the  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  was  placed  in  charge,  in  which 
position  she  still  remains.  These  rooms  have  become 
one  of  the  institutions  of  the  city,  and  have  been 
the  scene  of  many  thrilling  incidents  in  the  work  of 
individual  reform.  A pledge-book  is  kept  on  the 
table,  and  about  four  hundred  names  have  been  en- 
rolled, of  those  who,  in  the  midst  of  a downward 
course,  have  resolved  to  reform,  and  sought  the  tem- 
perance rooms  and  called  for  the  pledge,  unsolicited 
by  us.  Of  this  number  more  than  ninety  per  cent, 
stand  true. 


420 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCKFORD. 


On  the  15th  of  October,  1875,  a Reform  Club  was 
organized  in  the  rooms,  beginning  with  seven  mem- 
bers, all  men  rescued,  by  the  grace  of  God,  through 
the  gospel  temperance  work,  from  the  lowest  depths. 
This  club  no\v  numbers  over  one  hundred  men  of  like 
experience,  many  of  whom  have  been  converted,  and 
are  humbly  following  Christ. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  year  of  our  Union, 
Mrs.  John  Backus  was  elected  President,  Mrs.  Wood- 
ruff being  first  Vice-President;  and  Mrs.  Starr,  Re- 
cording Secretary;  Mrs.  S.  B.  Wilkins,  Treasurer;  the 
Corresponding  Secretar)^,  Mrs.  Henr}',  being  retained. 
These  officers  were  re-elected  at  our  last  annual  meet- 
ing. At  that  meeting,  the  Corresponding  Secretar)’  in 
making  her  report  referred  to  the  strange  fact,  that 
not  one  of  our  members  had  been  called  away  by 
death,  and  that  no  one  had  ever  seceded  from  us. 
But  to-day,  six  months  after,  we  cannot  say  this:  two 
of  our  dearest  fellow-workers  have  gone  up  to  repre- 
sent us  in  the  court  of  the  Kino;. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Phelps,  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  Woodruff, 
our  first  Vice-President.  No  one  readino;  these  two 
names,  in  this  connection,  can  know  what  it  means  to 
us.  They  were  beloved  and  honored  among  us,  and 
we  are  left  stricken,  yet  following  on. 

Our  work  is  peculiarly  gospel  work.  During  the 
years,  our  weekly  gospel  meetings  for  the  men,  our 
monthly  meetings  for  the  young  people,  Aveekly  Thurs- 
day afternoon  meetings  of  the  Union,  and  weekly  club 
meetings  on  Friday  evening  for  men  only,  are  all  car- 
ried on,  nothing  being  allowed  to  interfere.  During 


CRUSADE  AT  BLOOMINGTON. 


421 


the  summer,  afternoon  meetings  are  held  in  the  pub- 
lic park,  every  Saturday,  at  three  o’clock,  conducted  by 
the  women ; and  occasionally  some  good  pastor  of  a 
city  church  visits  us  of  a Sabbath  evening,  with  his 
people,  to  hold  a gospel  temperance  meeting. 

We  have  done  a great  deal  of  saloon-visiting,  not 
crusading,  and  tract  work,  with  good  results.  A great 
deal  of  relief  work  comes  to  us  every  winter.  Last 
winter  the  charity  of  the  churches  was  distributed 
through  our  agency,  and  we  had  thirty-five  families  on 
our  list,  whose  comfort  was  the  daily  care  of  our 
Union  all  winter.  Cause  of  this  want — drink.  Result 
of  the  gospel  temperance  relief  work — reformation, 
and  conversion  in  several  instances. 

Out  of  the  W.  T.  Union  of  our  city  have  grown 
several  organizations,  all  working  in  harmony  with  us, 
and  each  other,  viz.:  the  Rockford  Temperance  Alli- 
ance, the  Rockford  Reform  Club,  Spafford  Lodge,  I. 
O.  G.  T.,  and  the  Temple  of  Honor. 

We  were  sure,  at  first,  that  our  call  was  of  God,  but 
to-day,  looking  back  over  three  and  a half  years  of 
constant  work  in  this  cause,  we  knoiu  it. 

We  praise  Him  for  the  past,  and  trust  Him  for  the 
future. 

BLOOMINGTON,  ILLINOIS. 

Mrs.  A.  E.  Sanford,  of  Bloomington,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  work  there  : 

The  two  months  of  prayer  and  conference  preceding 
the  work  of  saloon  visiting,  was  a season  of  earnest 
praying  and  patient  hard  work.  Saloons  were  visited 
every  day,  their  keepers  and  occupants  conversed  with. 


422 


CRUSADE  AT  BLOOMINGTON. 


urged  to  sign  the  pledge,  become  Christians,  and  give 
up  the  miserable  business  of  selling  and  drinking 
liquors.  Several  gave  up  the  business,  many  signed 
the  pledge,  and  much  good  resulted  from  the  loving 
labors  of  God’s  loyal  women. 

April  20th,  1874,  was  a memorable  day  in  the  history 
of  Bloomington.  The  city  council,  in  answer  to  the 
importunate  entreaties  of  the  women  to  make  prohibi- 
tion regulations,  had  promised  to  leave  the  decision  to 
the  popular  vote.  At  an  early  hour  the  ladies  con- 
vened at  the  First  hi.  E.  Church,  and  after  spending 
one  hour  in  agonizing  prayer,  went  out  in  companies 
to  the  different  wards,  to  influence,  if  possible,  the 
voters.  Quiet,  timid  women,  with  calm,  resolute  cour- 
age, in  many  of  whose  faces  shone  the  peace  and  trust 
born  of  abiding  faith  in  God,  took  their  places  with 
hearts  full  of  prayer,  and  hands  full  of  prohibition 
tickets,  and  in  the  drizzling,  cold  rain,  fought  for  the 
cause  they  loved. 

Ministers,  Christian  men  and  women,  and  the  Faculty 
of  Wesleyan  University,  all  worked  together  tirelessly, 
for  they  thought  much  depended  on  that  day’s  work. 
Many  a voter,  who  had  little  faith  in  the  “ no  license 
plan,”  was  induced  to  try  the  experiment;  many  a 
poor  inebriate,  seeing  in  prohibition  his  only  hope  of 
reform,  and  many  a man,  who  cared  little  for  the  result, 
was  induced  to  vote  the  prohibition  ticket. 

At  the  church  the  women  gathered  all  day  and 
prayed ; lunch  was  served  also  there ; reliefs  sent  to 
those  who  had  worked  at  the  polls  till  strength  gave 
way.  Not  a word  of  disrespect  or  roughness  was 


CRUSADE  AT  BLOOMINGTON. 


423 


given  to  the  ladies,  though  they  mingled  with  rough 
men,  accompanying  them  to  the  polls  to  see  the 
proper  tickets  deposited. 

When  the  polls  closed,  men  and  women,  interested 
in  prohibition,  gathered  at  the  church  to  await  “re- 
turns.” As  the  news  came  in,  shouts  of  jd raise,  and 
songs  of  rejoicing  mingled  together;  and  when  the 
victory  was  declared,  the  grand  long-metre  doxology 
sung  with  quivering  lips  and  streaming  eyes,  attested 
how  deep  had  been  the  .interest,  and  how  profound 
was  the  thanksqivinm 

But  alas ! how  short-lived  was  our  triumph.  The 
council,  disappointed  in  the  result,  “dilly-dallied” 
about  carrying  the  popular  vote  into  execution,  until 
in  June  they  passed  the  mockery  of  a prohibition 
ordinance,  making  the  sale  of  less  than  one  gallon 
illegal.  But  even  this  mockery  accomplished  good. 
Young  men  and  boys  were  less  frequently  found  in 
saloons ; drunken  men  were  seen  less  frequently  upon 
the  streets ; and  a visible  improvement  was  manifest 
until  fall,  when  even  that  ordinance  was  repealed,  and 
“license”  became  the  rule.  Those  were  dark  days 
for  the  friends  of  temperance. 

Since  1876,  nearly  half  the  saloons  which  had  exist- 
ence here  have  been  closed.  The  Washinortonian 

o 

Club  has  grown  out  of  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  the 
Union.  Every  week  a few  sign  the  pledge ; and 
steadily,  though  slowly,  the  temperance  sentiment  is 
gaining  ground  and  winning  sympathy. 

The  ladies  of  the  Union  meet  weekly,  not  in  the 
large  numbers  which  characterized  the  Crusade  days. 


424 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


but  a few  are  always  there,  “stretching  their  hands  to 
God,”  and  believing  that  the  right  must  triumph  in 
God’s  good  time ; and  so  we  are  not  discouraged,  but 
hoping. 

MOLINE,  ILLINOIS. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  M.  E.  Stewart  for  the  facts 
connected  with  the  heroic  work  of  the  women  of  this 
town : 

Long  before  the  great  tidal  wave  of  temperance  had 
rolled  over  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  other  States,  there  were 
anxious  hearts  in  Moline.  There  were  sleepless  nights, 
and  agonizing  prayers,  and  many  times  was  the  ques- 
tion repeated  mentally,  “ What,  oh,  what  can  be  done 
to  stay  the  terrible  curse  of  intemperance?”  But 
when  the  Mad  news  of  what  was  beingr  done  in  our 
sister  States  flashed  across  the  wires,  we  thanked  God, 
and  took  courage,  hoping  that  a spark  from  the  spread- 
ing fire  might  alight  in  our  own  city.  At  length  our 
desires  were  realized,  and  on  the  20th  day  of  April, 
1874,  at  three  o’clock  p.  m.,  about  twenty  women  met 
for  prayer  and  discussion,  and,  before  separating, 
organized,  and  appointed  committees  for  various 
duties,  drafting  Constitution  and  By-laws,  and  drawing 
up  petitions. 

The  meeting  was  earnest  and  spirited,  and  the  great 
burden  of  heart  seemed  to  be  that  the  city  council, 
manufacturers  and  business  men,  should  take  a decided 
stand  on  the  side  of  temperance,  by  not  licensing  the 
sale  of  spirituous  liquors,  and  by  giving  employment 
to  men  of  steady  habits  only,  and  by  discountenancing 
intemperance  in  every  form. 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE, 


425 


Our  next  meeting  was  held  on  the  24th  of  April. 
Forty  ladies  were  present.  The  “Woman’s  Total 
Abstinence  League,”  as  the  Society  was  called,  had  for 
its  President  Mrs,  M.  M.  Hubbard,  a woman  of  large 
motherly  heart,  one  on  whose  brow  were  lines  of 
thought  and  care,  and  whose  hair  was  being  silvered 
with  age,  and  one  whose  heart  was  imbued  with  the 
work.  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Gordan  and  Mrs. 
M.  A.  Stephens.  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  M. 
E.  Stewart. 

After  that  meeting,  no  time  was  lost,  but  active  and 
persistent  labor  was  ours.  The  city  was  divided  into 
districts,  and  thoroughly  canvassed  with  a petition  to 
the  city  council  in  favor  of  “ no  license,  and  prohibition.” 
From  house  to  house,  from  shop  to  shop,  and  from 
manufactory  to  manufactory  did  the  earnest,  anxious 
canvassers  go,  earnestly  pleading  with  all  to  sign  the 
petition  “ for  no  license.”  Day  after  day  they  walked 
through  drenching  rain,  snow,  sleet,  wind  and  storm, 
so  that  it  might  be  completed  before  the  election  of 
new  city  officers. 

The  roll  contained  2,100  names  and  measured  sixty- 
nine  feet ; and  after  a meeting  of  solemn,  earnest 
prayers,  a committee  was  appointed  to  carry  it  to  the 
council  room.  It  was  presented  to  the  mayor,  who 
listened  attentively,  and  responded  by  saying,  that 
“both  he  and  the  council  were  in  sympathy  with  our 
petition,  and  would  do  all  they  could  to  grant  the 
favor.” 

The  hearts  of  the  old  council  had  been  touched,  and 
to  quiet  conscience,  they  had  repealed  the  license  law, 
and  left  a clean  page  for  the  new  officials. 


426 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


The  first  vote  taken  on  the  matter  was  a tie,  requir- 
ing the  mayor’s  signature  or  vote  to  decide,  which  he 
refused  to  give,  fearing  he  might  offend  either  party, 
and  thus  the  question  was  left  undecided,  and  for  two 
months  there  was  no  license,  hleanwhile  we  did  all 
in  our  power  to  prevent  action  in  favor  of  license.  We 
held  meetings  for  prayer,  sent  articles  on  temperance 
to  the  newspapers,  plead  with  the  manufacturers  and 
capitalists,  to  employ  only  men  of  strict  temperance 
principles  ;■  plead,  too,  before  “ our  wise  ones,  that  the 
policy  of  no  license  was,  and  always  would  be,  the 
wisest  political  economy — a financial  gain  to  the  com- 
monwealth.” 

Although  there  was  no  license,  the  liquor  selling  and 
drinking  went  on,  and  law  was  being  violated,  and 
work — hard  work — and  prayer  was  our  daily  motto. 

The  mayor  and  council  were  frequently  visited, 
always  after  earnest  prayer.  Saloon-keepers  were 
visited  and  appealed  to  iji  the  kindest  and  most  tender 
terms  to  give  up  their  occupation,  and  engage  in  some 
business  that  might  command  the  patronage  of  all. 
The  druggists  were  visited  with  the  pledge,  which  was 
signed  by  each  of  them,  but  alas ! we  only  too  well 
knew,  that  some  of  them  did  so  as  a mere  pretence, 
never  intending  to  keep  their  promise. 

The  churches  were  also  most  thoroughly  canvassed 
with  the  pledge,  and,  although  many  responded  eagerly, 
yet  our  hearts  were  saddened  to  know  that  quite  a 
number  of  God’s  professed  followers  did  not  fully 
comprehend  the  spirit  of  the  great  apostle,  when  he 
said,  “If  meat  make  my  brother  to  offend,  I will  eat  no 
flesh  while  the  world  stand.” 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE.  427 

Drunkards’  families  were  visited,  and  a kind  and 
helping  hand  extended  to  the  poor  inebriate. 

Many  little  incidents  occurred  during  such  visits, 
which  were  worthy  of  note,  but  I shall  only  mention 
two,  giving  them  in  the  canvasser’s  own  words : 

“In  the  northern  part  of  our  city  are  a number  of 
poor,  unfinished  and  unpainted  houses,  nothing  of  in- 
terest surrounding  them.  One  cold,  dark,  dreary  day, 
I called  at  the  door  of  one  <of  them  ; my  rap  was 
answered  by  a gruff  voice  from  within,  that  seemed  to 
come  from  some  hollow  cave.  The  door  opened,  and 
I stood  face  to  face,  in  the  presence  of  a man  upon 
whose  brow  was  stamped  God’s  bitter  curse,  ‘No 
drunkard  shall  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven.’  I fol- 
lowed him,  and  found  that  I had  entered  a place  of 
wretchedness  and  suffering.  No  fire,  no  furniture, 
except  a broken  table,  one  or  two  chairs,  an  old  stove, 
and  a bed  of  rags  on  the  floor.  Three  poor  children 
greeted  me  with  kind  and  somewhat  cheerful  faces,  a 
welcome  indeed,  in  such  a place  of  want  and  desti- 
tution. 

“ I told  them  I had  come  to  get  their  father  to  sign 
the  pledge,  and  hoped  to  bring  joy  and  comfort  to 
them.  After  hearing  the  pledge  read,  he  wrote  his 
name,  exclaiming  as  he  did  so,  ‘No  man  has  more 
need  to  sign  your  paper,  woman,  than  I,’  wishing,  at 
the  same  time,  ‘ that  intemperance  could  be  done 
away  with;’  then,  sinking  upon  the  floor,  he  exclaimed, 
‘ Father,  have  mercy,  what  has  drink  done  for  me  ! 
taken  my  children,  my  wife,  my  property.’ 

“The  oldest  child,  a girl  of  fourteen,  coming  and 


428 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


throwing  her  arms  around  my  neck,  inquired  if  I had 
‘ come  to  save  her  father  from  a drunkard’s  erave.’ 
‘Would  he  come  home  once  more  sober?  ’ ‘ Once  more 
bring  joy  and  comfort  to  his  home?’  Two  interesting 
children,  a girl  of  eight  and  a boy  of  ten,  came  and 
took  me  by  the  hand  and  with  trembling  voices,  asked 
if  I had  ‘come  to  save  their  father.’  I inquired  for 
their  mother.  ‘ She  was  dead  four  years  since.  She 
used  to  pray  with  us,  for  this  good  time  coming,  when 
father  would  be  kind  and  have  a pleasant  home.’  She 
inquired  if  I ‘ was  the  good  angel,  God  had  sent.’  The 
father  hearing  the  sad,  tearful  voices  of  his  children, 
came  and  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  asked  me  to  pray 
with  him.  In  that  dark  and  dreary  room,  believing 
God  would  hear  and  answer  prayer,  I asked  them 
to  repeat  with  me  the  Lord’s  prayer,  ‘ Our  Father, 
which  art  in  heaven.’ 

“ Visiting  still  further  among  the  poor,  I called  upon 
a family  in  more  comfortable  circumstances.  Povert}^ 
and  wretchedness  had  not  yet  stamped  their  blight  so 
plainly  upon  their  home.  Still  sorrow  and  sadness  had 
found  their  way,  and  were  gnawing  at  the  hearts  of  its 
occupants.  An  aged  mother,  a young  wife,  a beautiful 
babe ; must  the  finger  of  scorn  be  pointed  towards 
them,  a drunkard’s  family  ? I told  them  my  mission. 
I had  come  to  get  their  names  to  our  petition.  In 
bitter  anguish  they  told  me  of  sorrow  and  suffering. 
How  they  had  waited  his  coming  in  trembling  and  in 
fear:  how  they  had  gone  out  in  .the  darkness  of  the 
niofht,  mother  and  daimhter,  wanderinq  amonq  the 
haunts  of  vice  to  find  no  comfort. 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE.  429 

“He,  upon  whom  they  once  leaned  for  support,  was 
too  intoxicated  to  know  them.  In  bitter  anguish  they 
had  returned  to  their  home,  so  cold  and  desolate,  to 
await  his  coming.  The  young  wife  asked  if  anything 
could  be  done  to  save  her  husband  from  a drunkard’s 
grave.  Inquiring  if  they  ever  prayed  for  him,  or  those 
who  sold  him  drink,  I received  the  answer,  ‘ Prayer ! 
What  good  would  prayer  do  ? ’ I entreated  her  to 
pray  for  him,  and  for  her  enemies ; told  her  prayer 
would  prevail  before  God;  to  pray  for  the  time  when  this 
terrible  monster  intemperance  would  be  done  away ; 
for  her  son  God  had  given  her,  that  he  might  not 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father.  Assuring  her  all 
our  labors  were  backed  by  faith  and  prayer ; that  we 
would  continue  our  prayers  with  hers,  the  prayers  of 
the  drunkards’  wives  and  children,  until  they  reached 
to  heaven.  She  threw  herself  at  my  feet,  exclaiming, 
‘ Let  me  come,  then.  Lord,  and  consecrate  myself  to 
Thee.’  ” 

Our  meetings  were  always  characterized  by  a deep 
devotional  spirit,  great  zeal  and  earnestness  in  the 
work.  Social  positions,  if  they  differed,  were  for  the 
time  levelled,  and  denominational  differences  forgotten. 

Our  League  grew,  and  soon  numbered  ninety-three, 
but  only  a part  were  willing  for  active  service,  so  that 
the  labor  devolved  upon  the  few. 

The  ministers  joined  with  us  heart  and  hand,  and 
in  sermons,  hymns  and  prayers,  held  aloft  the  temper- 
ance banner.  By  their  enthusiasm  they  incited  the 
people  to  action,  and  temperance  meetings  became  the 
order  of  the  day. 


430 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


Mass-meetings  were  held  alternately  in  each  church. 
A Union  Temperance  Prayer-meeting  was  organized, 
and  sustained  for  a year.  A part  of  the  League  had 
pledged  themselves  to  be  always  there,  if  possible. 

And  those  who  held  on  were  amply  repaid,  for  their 
own  hearts  were  warmed  and  cheered,  and  often  the 
blessed  prayer-room  seemed  a very  Bethel.  After 
much  prayer  the  saloons  were  visited. 

On  June  2d,  after  earnest  prayers,  discussion,  and 
great  shrinking  from  so  unpleasant  a duty,  the  picket 
work  began ; a few  only  volunteering  to  assist  in  the 
labor.  That  great  excitement  was  created  by  this 
arrangement  will  be  seen  by  the  following,  taken  from 
our  city  paper,  the  Moline  Review: 

“A  Street  Riot. — Every  friend  of  good  order  in 
Moline  must  feel  disgusted  with  the  riotous  crowd 
that  assembled  at  the  corner  of  hlain  and  Atkinson 
streets  on  Wednesday  evening,  and,  in  defiance  of 
law,  blockaded  the  streets  and  disturbed  the  peace  for 
hours.  There  was  no  occasion  for  this  public  disturb- 
ance ; there  is  no  excuse  for  it ; and  the  good  name 
of  the  city  requires  that  a repetition  shall  not  be  per- 
mitted to  occur. 

“ But  in  this  connection  some  explanation  of  what 
drew  the  crowd  together  is  required.  It  appears  that 
the  Ladies’  Temperance  League  deputed  two  of  their 
number  to  obtain  and  record  the  names  of  all  persons 
who  enter  Shroeder’s  saloon,  which  is  located  on  the 
corner  of  the  streets  already  named.  Early  in  the 
morning  the  ladies  began  the  duty  assigned  them,  and 
remained  at  their  post  until  noon  without  any  notable 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


431 


occurrence.  In  the  afternoon  kegs  of  beer  were  placed 
in  the  middle  of  the  street,  and  freely  drank  by  a 
small  crowd  of  men.  This  continued  until  six  o’clock 
in  the  evening,  the  crowd  constantly  swelling  in  num-’ 
bers.  By  eight  o’clock  the  crowd  had  grown  from  a 
score  to  hundreds.  A wagon  was  placed  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  street  and  beer  flowed  freely.  The  crowd 
was  ordered  by  the  mayor  in  person  to  disperse,  but 
it  refused  to  do  so.  By  nine  o’clock  from  300  to  500 
men,  women,  and  children  had  congregated.  Shouts, 
jeers,  speeches,  and  profanity  were  indulged  in.  Chal- 
lenges were  boldly  shouted  for  the  friends  of  temper- 
ance to  defend  their  views  by  arguments ; common 
decency  was  outraged,  religion  mocked,  and  the  name 
of  the  Deity  loudly  proclaimed  as  authority  for  drink- 
ing. This  state  of  affairs  continued  without  hindrance 
until  eleven  o’clock,  when  the  crowd,  out  of  sheer 
exhaustion,  dispersed.” 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  general  prayer-meeting 
when  the  above  scene  occurred ; and,  during  the  hour 
of  prayer,  could  be  heard,  far  from  the  place,  the 
shouts  and  yells  of  the  enraged  bacchanalians.  Ear- 
nest prayers  went  up  to  our  Father  for  the  poor, 
wretched  votaries  of  alcohol. 

After  that  evening  the  pickets  never  remained  on 
duty  later  than  six  o’clock  in  the  evening,  as  we  did 
not  deem  it  wise.  Notwithstandingf  remarks  and 
severe  criticisms,  the  pickets  proved  faithful,  and  with 
pencil  and  paper  took  notes  as  the  hours  went  by. 

Many  little  incidents,  both  ludicrous  and  amusing, 
occurred  whilst  we  were  on  picket  duty. 


I 


432 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


One  very  hot  afternoon,  when  two  were  at  their 
post,  a man  came  driving  up  like  Jehu,  and  when 
near,  drove  clear  around  us,  staring  all  the  while,  as 
if  he  had  never  before  seen  two  women.  He  then 
turned,  crossed  over  to  the  saloon,  went  in,  and  no 
doubt  quenched  his  thirst.  He  then  came  out,  jumped 
in  his  buggy,  and  came  back,  stopping  just  in  front  of 
us,  when  he  took  out  a pencil  and  paper  and  began  to 
write,  as  we  supposed  at  first,  but  we  subsequently 
learned  that  he  was  drawing  our  likenesses,  and  after- 
wards they  were  hung  up  in  the  saloon  on  exhibi- 
tion, and  when  we  passed  by,  we  could  hear  remarks 
about  the  correctness  of  the  drawinofs.  The  man 
himself,  his  manner,  etc.,  during  the  whole  scene,  was 
exceedingly  ludicrous,  and  yet  he  never  spoke  a word  ; 
we,  meanwhile,  retaining  our  dignity,  and  apparently 
indifferent  to  it  all,  and  yet  really  peeping  out  from 
under  our  sun-hats,  we  could  see  the  whole,  and  were 
greatly  amused. 

Out  of  the  picket  work  grew  many  rumors,  Incor- 
rect ideas,  and  many  unjust  and  unkind  remarks.  But 
during  the  whole  time  we  were  too  busily  engaged 
to  notice,  or  give  a second  thought  to  anything  of  the 
kind.  Our  hearts  were  in  the  work ; we  had  counted 
the  cost ; were  willing  to  make  great  sacrifices,  and 
knew  well  before  we  began,  that  we  should  be  mis- 
understood and  misrepresented ; but  we  had  also 
learned  from  the  words  of  the  blessed  Master,  that 
“ The  servant  is  not  above  his  Lord.” 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  for  which  we  were 
not  prepared.  We  were  not  ready  for  the  unjust  re- 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


433 


marks  and  criticisms  of  those  who  professed  not  only 
strong  temperance  principles,  but  also  Christianity. 

However,  the  picket  work  proved  effectual,  and  the 
business  of  one  particular  saloon  wasted  away  like  the 
dew  before  the  summer  sun. 

This  saloon  had  been  notorious  for  decoying  our 
American  young  men  within  its  gilded  net,  and  be- 
cause we  were  anxious  to  save  our  boys,  we  placed 
our  heaviest  guns  near  b 

Men  not  lost  to  shame,  would  turn  away  when  they 
saw  the  pickets,  and  young  men  would  come  to  us, 
and  ask  us  for  the  pledge,  saying,  they  were  disgusted 
with  the  drink  habit,  and  weary  of  their  thraldom,  and 
desired  to  lead  better  lives. 

It  also  proved  a grand  discipline  to  ourselves,  for 
some  of  us,  who  so  greatly  deplored  the  sin  and  misery 
of  strong  drink,  knew  but  little  of  its  heinousness  or 
extent,  until  we  learned  it  upon  picket  duty. 

The  work  was  besfun  for  two  reasons : one,  that  we 
might  obtain  evidence  of  violation  of  law ; and  the 
other,  that  our  presence  might  deter  our  American 
youth  from  entering  and  forming  the  habit  of  strong 
drink. 

But  a deep  and  lasting  impression  was  made  upon 
ourselves.  Our  souls  were  sickened  and  saddened, 
and  our  determination  deepened  and  strengthened, 
never  to  abandon  the  cause,  until  our  old  and  young 
men  should  be  saved  from  the  soul  and  body  destroy- 
ing influence  of  alcoholic  stimulants. 

During  the  picket  term,  we  also  made  arrangements 

for  a temperance  convention  and  celebration,  which 
28 


434 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


convened  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  with  the  help  of 
our  Davenport  and  Rock  Island  sisters,  proved  quite 
a success. 

There  was  also  a petition  presented  to  the  county 
guardians.  Though  able  and  earnest,  and  signed  by 
the  leading  ladies  of  Rock  Island  county,  the  petition 
was  refused,  and  license  granted. 

The  appeal  was  signed  and  presented  by  the 
following  ladies: 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Hubbard,  President;  hlrs.  M.  E. 
Stewart,  Secretary;  Mrs.  J.  W.  Spencer,  President; 
Mrs.  M.  B.  Hays,  Mrs.  M.  R.  McCalister,  Mrs.  T.  J. 
Robinson,  Mrs.  T.  F.  Abbot,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Starr,  Mrs. 
Margaret  E.  Ells,  and  Mrs.  Helen  Mofht. 

In  the  midst  of  our  arduous  labors  we  did  not  for- 
get that  justice  is  justice,  and  that  those  men  whose 
“business  was  licensed  by  law,  and  protected  by  law, 
should  be  of  all  men  the  most  willing  to  be  judged  by 
law;”  and  so,  accordingly,  in  the  month  of  May  a 
legal  committee  was  appointed  to  “take  notes  of  evi- 
dence of  all  violations  of  law  which  came  under  their 
notice,  or  to  their  knowledge.”  An  attorney  was  also 
retained,  and  the  work  assumed  a definite  form. 

Of  course  such  proceedings  called  forth  a variety 
of  remarks,  such  as,  “Oh!  don’t  use  the  law  in  your 
work,”  and  “What  do  these  women  know?”  “They 
cannot  prove  anything.”  “Of  course,  law  is  made  for 
the  lawless,  and  law  must  be  enforced  if  men  steal 
our  money,  or  murder  our  citizens;  but  this  is  dif- 
ferent; and  really  it  will  agitate  matters  too  much,  if 
you  prosecute  men  for  violations  of  the  liquor  law.” 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


435 


But  we  believed  our  Father,  a God  of  justice  as  well 
as  an  answerer  of  prayer,  and  most  wonderfully  did 
He  open  the  way  for  us,  as  the  sequel  will  show. 

Our  testimony  often  came  from  sources  both  sur- 
prising and  unexpected;  and  through  the  dust  and 
heat  we  toiled  on,  “occasionally  gaining  a word  of 
cheer,  but  never  failing  to  hear  of  our  mistakes.” 

Early  in  July  a modified  and  somewhat  restricted 
license  law  went  into  force.  Under  the  old  law  there 
was  an  unlimited  flow  of  rum,  brandy  and  whiskey; 
but  this  ordinance  permitted  only  the  sale  of  wine 
and  beer.  Under  the  old  law  the  saloons  were 
nominally  required  to  close  at  eleven  o’clock  at 
night,  but  in  fact  ran  on  undisturbed  by  watch  or 
police — rolling  balls  and  clinking  glasses — until 
twelve,  one  and  two. 

By  the  new  law  they  were  required  to  close  at  ten 
o’clock,  and  no  games  of  any  kind  were  permitted  to 
be  played  in  the  saloons.  Under  the  old  license  there 
was  paint  on  the  windows,  and  screens  at  the  doors; 
by  the  new  ordinance,  “he,  the  saloon-keeper,  shall 
keep  the  windows  in  his  said  bar,  or  place  of  business, 
free  of  paint  or  any  other  matter,  whereby  free  view 
of  the  inside  of  his  said  bar,  or  place  of  business, 
through  said  windows,  would  or  might  be  obstructed 
from  the  outside  thereof;  that  persons  of  ordinary 
stature,  standing  on  such  ground,  can  easily  see  the 
interior  of  such  bar  or  place  of  business,  or  anywhere 
therein ; whereby  any  obstruction  would  be  made  to 
a clear  view  of  the  interior  of  said  bar  or  place  of 
business,  from  the  outside  thereof.” 


436 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


If  this  was  not  all  we  could  have  desired,  yet  we 
felt  it  was  a step  in  the  right  direction. 

The  mayor  also  told  us  that  instead  of  twenty  saloons, 
there  should  be  licensed  but  eight  or  ten.  But  after 
the  number  was  complete,  one  unfortunate  evening, 
when  the  mayor  could  not  be  there,  the  license  faction 
of  the  council  increased  the  number  to  fifteen,  which 
so  annoyed  the  opposing  party  that  one  left  in  disgust. 

The  mayor’s  ordinance,  however,  produced  an  effect, 
one  which  the  saloon-keepers  did  not  greatly  enjoy; 
many  being  deterred  from  entering,  for  fear  of  being 
seen  from  the  outside  by  the  passer-by;  and  billiard 
playing  being  prohibited,  much  of  the  former  charm 
was  broken. 

And  thus  we  felt  that  God  had  answered  prayer. 

About  this  time.  Dr.  William  Ross  (since  then  de- 
ceased), an  enthusiastic  lecturer,  came  to  our  city,  and 
.by  his  earnestness  incited  the  people  to  financial 
action  and  united  effort  to  suppress  all  illegal  traffic 
in  ardent  spirits.  The  people  responded  nobly,  the 
result  being  the  subscription  of  over  |200,000,  to  be 
assessed  at  the  discretion  of  a board  of  managers. 

o 

The  board  was  composed  of  some  of  our  best  men, 
who,  for  a time,  stood  firmly  by  their  pledges. 

If  any  one  inquired  what  was  to  be  gained  by  our 
lawsuits,  even  if  we  did  win,  we  answered,  ‘Aluch, 
every  way:”  but  as  one  definite  result,  we  knew  that 
minors  and  inebriates  who  were  connected  with  our 
cases  could  not  now  find  so  easy  access  to  the  intoxi- 
cating boAvl,  and  we  also  knew,  that  some  unconscious 
parents  were  suddenly  brought  to  a knowledge  of 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


437 


where  their  minor  sons  spent  much  of  their  leisure 
and  money, 

' The  picket  work  continued,  and  the  days  sped  on. 
Many  weary,  oh,  so  w^eary  days  were  ours;  but  One 
was  ever  with  us,  to  comfort  and  sustain.  The  sum- 
mer months  passed  rapidly  by,  for  our  hearts  and 
hands  were  filled,  and  we  scarce  took  note  of  time. 

September  came,  and  we  sent  our  witnesses  of  the 
violation  of  the  law  to  the  grand  jury  of  Rock  Island 
county. 

Having  thoroughly  proved.  In  the  meantime,  that 
“the  municipal  courts  would  grant  small,  if  any,  justice 
in  cases  brought  to  their  notice  by  women,”  we  had 
had  overwhelminor  evidence  of  the  violations  of  the 

o 

city  law. 

Three  cases  were  brought  before  the  city  court,  but 
each  one  lost.  With  sadness  we  recall  the  ungentle- 
manly  conduct  of  the  opposing  lawyer,  in  his  ques- 
tioning one  of  the  witnesses,  a most  excellent  Christian 
woman,  who  now  rests  from  all  her  labors,  where  her 
heart  is  not  saddened,  or  her  ear  pained,  by  the  coarse 
ribaldry  of  bacchanalian  revelry. 

During  the  trials  of  the  cases,  the  same  lawyer 
would  leave  the  court-room  and  still  further  excite  his 
stimulated  brain.  And  our  experience  proved,  that 
when  the  city  employed  its  police,  they  were  not  very 
much  troubled  at  violations  of  the  new  ordinance,  and 
our  only  hope  must  be  under  the  State  law. 

The  pickets  took  evidence  of  the  violation  of  the 
State  law;  and  a book,  containing  a list  of  names  of 
witnesses  of  the  violation  of  said  law,  was  sent  to  the 


438 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


foreman  of  the  grand  jury,  who  refused  to  lay  the 
cases  before  the  jury.  The  State’s  attorney  then  sent 
word  to  the  President  of  the  League  that  she  or  other 

o 

members  of  the  society  must  present  the  cases 
themselves.  Accordingly,  the  President  and  legal 
committee  attended  court,  and  presented  our  cases, 
during  which  time,  other  members  met  for  prayer  and 
supplication  to  the  God  of  justice,  that  we  all  might 
be  constantly  led  by  the  Spirit. 

Some  of  the  members  of  the  grand  jury  were  liquor- 
dealers  and  drinkers,  yet  such  was  the  character  of  the 
testimony  laid  before  them,  that  they  were  compelled 
to  bring  in  twenty-two  indictments  against  the  liquor- 
sellers  of  Moline. 

The  cases  were  not  reached  until  near  the  close  of 
the  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  when  five  cases  were 
tried. , We  were  not  allowed  to  retain  a temperance 
man  on  the  jury,  or  one  who  believed  the  selling  of 
liquor  to  be  a moral  wrong. 

We  watched  the  empanelling  of  the  jury  with  great 
anxiety.  How  our  hearts  sank  within  us  as  we  saw 
one  after  another,  the  friends  of  temperance,  dismissed 
from  the  jury ! Yet  we  rejoiced  to  know  that  there 
were  staunch  temperance  men  in  the  county. 

Three  men  were  summoned,  two  of  whom  were 
drunk,  and  one  idiotic.  The  opposing  counsel  fought 
for  hours  to  retain  such  upon  the  jury;  but  through 
the  earnest  appeals  of  the  women,  and  honest  efforts 
of  our  attorneys,  who  were  noble  and  staunch  men, 
they  were  dismissed,  and  their  places  filled  by  liquor- 
men  who  were  not  so  fully  under  its  influence.  And 


' '' 


i ■' 

, 


i 

- 

f 

i 

< 


■ - Y 


I 


I 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


439 


before  such  a jury,  men  whose  moral  perceptions  were 
blunted,  and  whose  hearts  were  calloused,  were  our 
cases  tried.  But  Jehovah  remembered  his  people. 
Three  of  the  five  rum-sellers  were  convicted,  sen- 
tenced to  fine  and  imprisonment;  one  confessed,  and 
one  was  acquitted. 

Several  members  of  the  League  attended  the  trials, 
and  were  soundly  berated  by  the  opposing  attorneys 
for  neglecting,  so  they  said,  homes  and  family.  So,  to 
take  that  weapon  out  of  their  hands,  some  of  the 
ladies  took  their  children,  knitting,  etc.,  with  them, 
thus  losing  no  time,  and  yet  seeing  with  their  own 
eyes,  and  hearing  with  their  own  ears,  the  injustice 
and  wickedness  of  men  whose  hearts  seemed  calloused 
to  all  that  was  good,  pure  and  noble.  Many  lessons 
were  also  learned,  not  to  be  forgotten. 

Some  of  our  witnesses  were  taken  to  saloons  and 
treated  by  opposing  lawyers,  being  followed  to  the 
door.s  by  two  of  our  ladies,  who  took  cognizance  of 
the  painful  fact. 

The  testimonies  of  some  of  the  witnesses  were  very 
touching,  that  of  one  heart-broken  wife  and  mother 
bringing  tears  to  the  eyes  of  many. 

One  case  was  tried  and  gained  at  the  next  term  of 
court;  sentence,  fine  and  imprisonment.  The  next 
on  the  docket  was  that  of  a saloon-keeper  who  had 
just  lost  his  wife,  and,  being  left  with  a large  family, 
his  case  was  postponed  until  the  next  court,  but, 
through  the  sympathies  of  our  women  in  his  behalf, 
was  ultimately  dropped. 

The  trying  of  our  cases  revealed  many  things  rela- 


440 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


tive  to  the  liquor  traffic  which  before  were  unknown 
to  us,  and  thus  our  experience  was  enlarged,  and  last- 
ing impressions  made  upon  our  hearts,  and  we  said, 
“We  will  never  give  up  the  ship,”  but  will  labor  on  to 
raise  the  fallen. 

Time  flew  on  apace,  and  as  the  picket  and  legal 
work  had  frightened  many  of  our  members,  the  League 
was  greatly  diminished  in  numbers,  and  the  hard 
labor  was  all  performed  by  a few,  who  were  most 
wonderfully  sustained  by  a loving  Father,  through 
faith  and  prayer. 

Death  entered  our  circle,  and  one  whom  we  dearly 
loved  passed  over  to  her  rest.  Sickness  and  removals 
at  last  compelled  us  to  suspend  for  a time,  and  ten 
long  months  passed  by  before  we  resumed  our  meet- 
ings. In  the  meantime,  another  mayor  came  into 
authority,  and  the  screens  were  again  placed  at  the 
doors,  and  paint  upon  the  windows  of  the  saloons ; the 
billiard  tables  were  returned ; all  law,  both  city  and 
State,  violated,  and  yet  no  one  to  interfere. 

But  we,  a little  band  of  women,  still  meet  to  plead 
with  God  in  prayer  for  a better  day.  And  we  believe 
it  will  come,  for  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  is  ever  on 
the  side  of  ria-ht ! 

o 

Our  little  band  has  been  made  auxiliary  to  the  State 
and  National  Union,  and  our  name  changed  to 
“Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union.” 

We  are  watching,  waiting,  praying 
For  a brighter  day  to  da^\^l, 

When  our  watchword  shall  be  Freedom ! 

Freedom,  of  Jehovah  born. 


CRUSADE  AT  MOLINE. 


441 


When  our  loved  and  proud  republic — 

Land  for  which  our  fathers  died — 

Soil  made  sacred  by  the  struggle 
They  encountered  side  by  side ; 

MTen  this  land,  o’er  which  our  banner, 

Symbol  of  the  free  and  brave, 

Floats  aloft  in  all  its  glory. 

Shall  no  longer  know  a slave  ! 

Oh,  thou  mighty  God  of  nations. 

We  would  stretch  our  hands  to  thee; 

Hear  our  prayer  for  deliverance ; 

Come,  oh,  come,  and  set  us  free  ! 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  Crusade  work  was  carried  on  with  more  or  less 
success,  in  addition  to  the  towns  already  named,  in 
Springfield,  Galesburg,  Dickson,  Joliet,  Pontiac,  Mata- 
mora,  Oswego,  Farmer  City,  Yorkville,  and  Sparta.  The 
good  work  has  gone  on  in  Illinois.  There  are  now 
fifty-four  Woman’s  Temperance  Unions  in  the  State, 
nine  temperance  reading-rooms,  two  friendly  inns,  and 
a large  number  of  children  gathered  into  juvenile 
organizations. 


WEST  VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  VI, 

WHEELING,  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

During  the  Crusade  in  Ohio  a deep  interest  was 
felt  among  the  Christian  and  temperance  people  of 
West  Virginia  for  the  success  of  the  work. 

Indeed,  the  sympathy  and  excitement  was  so  great 
that  the  liquor-dealers  were  alarmed  lest  the  tidal-wave 
that  was  so  rapidly  overthrowing  the  traffic  in  Ohio 
should  overwhelm  them. 

I visited  the  State  at  that  time,  and  aided  in  the 
work.  Mass-meetings  were  beinof  held,  the  women 
were  deeply  stirred,  and  Temperance  was  the  theme 
of  conversation  in  every  circle. 

In  Wheeling,  especially,  the  enthusiasm  of  temper- 
ance people  was  very  great. 

A wealthy  gentleman,  hlr.  Hornbrooke,  rented  the 
Opera  House,  the  largest  public  hall  in  the  place,  and 
offered  it,  free  of  charge,  to  the  ladies,  as  long  as  they 
wished  to  use  it.  All  classes  attended  these  temper- 
ance meetings,  which  were  held  twice  a day.  Deal- 
ers, drinkers,  and  manufacturers  were  conspicuous  in 
almost  every  gathering,  and  those  who  spoke  had  the 
(442) 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


443 


privilege  of  speaking  face  to  face  with  the  men  they 
desired  to  reach. 

“There  are  no  less  than  eight  of  our  heaviest  liquor- 
dealers  in  the  audience,”  whispered  one  of  the  promi- 
nent ladies  to  me,  just  before  the  meeting  commenced. 

“Notice  that  young  man,  standing  by  the  pillar, 
with  his  hat  in  his  hand.  He  is  the  son  of  one  of  our 
heaviest  distillers ; he  is  anxious  that  his  father  should 
get  out  of  the  business ; he  says  it  is  becoming  so  dis- 
reputable that  he  is  ashamed  to  be  known  as  the  son 
of  a distiller,”  was  the  passing  comment  of  another 
lady. 

There  was  great  freedom  of  speech  in  these  gather- 
ings. 

One  evening  I was  speaking  to  an  immense  audi- 
ence in  the  Opera  House,  about  the  awful  harvest  of 
crime  and  pauperism,  the  liquor  traffic  yielded  annually, 
when  I was  startled  by  a man  in  the  audience  calling 
out: 

“ If  you  don’t  stop  that  kind  of  talk  you  will  ruin  my 
business.” 

I promptly  replied : “If  you  are  in  the  liquor  busi- 
ness, I hope  I will.” 

“No,  I’m  not  in  the  liquor  business ; but  I keep  the 
jail — and  the  success  of  the  jail  business  depends 
mainly  on  that.” 

The  effect  was  electrical — the  audience  saw  the 
point  in  a moment,  and  cheered  enthusiastically. 

During  the  Crusade  in  Wheeling,  among  the  saloon- 
keepers visited  was  one  Laramie,  who  kept  in  connec- 
tion with  his  saloon,  a variety  theatre. 


444 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  women  were  going 
to  visit  the  saloons,  Laramie  invited  them  to  bemn 

o 

their  work  at  his  saloon,  and  assured  them  that  they 
should  be  treated  with  respect,  and  that  he  would  see 
that  they  were  not  harmed. 

They  accepted  his  invitation,  and  a large  company 
of  ladies  marched  from  the  church  to  his  saloon.  A 
great  crowd  followed  them.  The  saloon  door  was 
closed  against  them,  for  the  dance  was  still  going  on, 
and  they  could  not  admit  respectable  women  to  such 
a dance. 

While  the  ladies  stood  outside,  and  the  wild,  devil- 
ish revelry  went  on,  they  could  plainly  hear  the  danc- 
ing men  and  women,  who  were  nude,  at  the  pauses  in 
the  mad  whirl,  slapping  each  other,  and  the  rude,  vul- 
gar crowd  of  men  and  boys  cheering  the  indecent 
performances. 

The  ladies  looked  at  each  other  in  utter  horror 
and  amazement,  for  a moment,  and  then  all  knelt  on 
the  pavement,  and  one  of  the  number  led  in  earnest 
prayer. 

After  the  prayer  they  sang,  “ Nearer,  my  God,  to 
Thee.”  While  they  were  singing,  the  dance  closed, 
the  saloon  door  opened,  and  Mr.  Laramie  appeared 
to  conduct  them  into  the  theatre.  The  stiflinQf  fumes 
of  tobacco  and  whiskey  that  met  them  as  they  entered 
made  them  feel  that  they  were  near  the  brink  of  hell. 

They  were  taken  at  once  on  to  the  stage,  where  the 
wild,  hurdy-gurdy  dancers  had  so  recently  been,  and 
facing  the  same  vile  audience,  began  their  meeting. 

There  was  a great  deal  of  noise  and  disorder  at  first, 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


445 


but  as  the  meeting  progressed,  the  attention  of  the 
most  degraded  was  gained,  and  silence  and  respect 
were  secured. 

On  the  third  day  of  the  meetings  in  this  theatre,  Mr. 
Laramie,  who  began  to  feel  that  they  were  interfering 
with  his  business,  said:  “Now,  ladies,  I have  heard 
your  side,  and  treated  you  with  respect.  I want  you 
to  stay  and  hear  my  side.”  As  they  could  but  choose 
to  hear,  they  lifted  their  hearts  in  prayer  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  might  take  hold  on  his  heart. 

He  came  forward  with  a document  in  his  hand, 
which  he  read.  It  was  full  of  the  most  abusive  and 
insulting  statements.  He  advised  the  ladies  to  go 
home  and  attend  to  their  own  business.  The  vulgar 
crowd  cheered  him  lustily.  But  the  women  were  un- 
moved, for  they  felt  that  their  business  just  then  was 
to  close  up  that  den  of  vice,  and  rescue  the  souls  he 
was  dragging  down  to  death. 

The  power  of  God  took  hold  of  the  man,  and  he 
trembled  so  he  could  hardly  finish  reading  the  paper. 
The  moment  his  part  of  the  performance  was  over,  one 
of  the  ladies  went  to  him,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand, 
said : “ My  brother,  I have  one  request  to  make  of 
you — I want  you  before  you  sleep  to-night  to  take  that 
paper  and  get  down  on  your  knees  and  ask  God  to 
forgive  you  for  that  false,  insulting  statement.  You’ve 
got  to  meet  that  paper  in  the  judgment,  if  you  do  not 
meet  it  here.  You  know  you  are  in  a bad  business, 
and  that  you’re  ruining  souls.  I beg  you,  my  brother, 
tc  give  up  this  warfare  against  God  and  humanity.” 
The  man  was  so  deeply  moved  that  the  tears  streamed 


446 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


over  his  face,  and  he  promised  her  that  he  would 
seriousl)^  consider  the  matter. 

This  theatre  became  a regular  meeting-place,  and 
daily  these  pure,  true  women,  some  of  them  of  high 
social  position  and  influence,  preached  the  gospel  of 
the  Son  of  God  to  the  lost  besotted  men,  who  congre- 
gated there,  and  won  many  of  them  as  trophies  of  the 
cross. 

When  these  meetings  had  been  going  on  for  some 
time.  Miss  Boyd  and  Miss  Humphryville  called  on  Mr. 
Laramie  to  have  a quiet  personal  talk.  He  invited 
them  down  into  the  dining-room,  and  talked  very  freely 
with  them.  He  confessed  that  he  was  in  a mean  busi- 
ness, but  he  was  in  it  because  of  the  money  he  could 
make. 

“The  Lord  can  take  the  money  out  of  it,  my  brother. 
Besides,  there  are  things  of  more  value  than  gold. 
Think  of  the  value  of  an  immortal  soul ; for  the  little 
money  you  get,  you  are  ruining  scores  and  hundreds 
of  souls.  Think  of  the  young  women  you  are  degrad- 
ing. How  would  you  like  your  daughters  to  be  led 
into  such  a life  ? Remember,  these  girls  are  daughters 
of  fathers  and  mothers  who  loved  them  in  the  days  of 
their  purity  as  much  as  you  do  yours.” 

“ I don’t  want  my  children  to  come  to  such  a life — I 
don’t  allow  them  to  come  to  this  place  at  all.” 

He  was  deeply  moved,  and  promised  again  to  con- 
sider the  matter,  and  urged  them  to  visit  his  wife. 

The  ladies  asked  the  privilege  of  talking  with  the 
girls,  and  they  were  shown  into  their  apartment. 

Only  two  of  the  girls  were  in,  and  the  ladies  sitting 


CRUSADE  AT  TTHEELING. 


447 


down  beside  them  engaged  in  personal  conversation 
with  each.  They  were  beautiful,  and  behaved  them- 
selves well  in  presence  of  these  visitors. 

The  ears  of  the  Christian  women  tingled,  as  they 
listened  to  the  story  of  folly  and  sin  that  had  shad- 
owed these  two  young  lives. 

One  of  the  girls  had  been  induced  to  run  away  fropi 
home  when  she  was  little  more  than  a child. 

“ Do  your  friends  know  where  you  are  ? ” 

“No;  and  I wouldn’t  have  my  Christian  mother 
know  where  I am,  and  what  I am  doing,  for  the 
world.” 

She  revealed  some  of  the  horrors  of  the  life  she 
was  living,  the  mock  marriages  at  each  theatre,  the 
mating  of  the  men  and  women  of  the  troupe,  the 
marrying  and  unmarrying  at  pleasure. 

The  women  were  horrified  and  amazed  that  such 
things  could  be  done  in  a land  of  Bibles  and  churches. 
Say  not,  gentle  reader,  that  Wheeling  was  a Gomor- 
rah, and  this  place  an  exception.  Every  large  city 
almost  in  the  land  has  its  low  dens  where  just  such  vile 
men  and  women,  amid  the  fumes  of  liquor  and  tobacco, 
corrupt  the  youth  of  the  land  by  their  vile  perform- 
ances. And  in  some  of  these  dens  the  girls  are  as 
much  prisoners  as  though  they  were  in  a peniten- 
tiary. Once  in  these  dens  they  can  never  get  away. 

A friend  of  mine  went  into  one  of  the  low  dance- 
houses  of  New  York  city.  She  managed  to  speak 
with  one  of  the  young  girls : 

“Why  do  you  lead  this  awful  life?” 

“ I can’t  help  it.  I can’t  get  away  from  it.” 


448 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


“ Oh,  yes,  you  can.  There  is  the  door.  Can’t  you 
walk  right  out?” 

“ No.  Do  you  see  that  man  beside  the  door?  It’s 
his  business  to  see  to  it  that  none  of  the  girls  slip 
away.” 

“But  couldn’t  you  get  out  at  some  back  door  or 
window  ? ” 

“ Every  door  and  window  is  barred.  There  is  no 
hope  for  us  but  in  death.” 

These  prison  dens,  and  the  whole  vile  system  of 
amusements  connected  with  them,  find  their  chief 
stimulant  in  alcoholic  drinks,  and  could  not  exist  with- 
out them. 

But  to  return.  The  ladies  went  down  to  Laramie’s 
one  day,  to  find  the  house  closed  up.  The  burning  eye 
of  the  public  had  been  turned  upon  the  place,  and 
villains  who  moved  in  respectable  society  didn’t  like 
to  be  seen  going  there;  the  patronage  fell  off,  and 
Laramie  was  financially  ruined.  God  had  taken  the 
money  out  of  it  in  answer  to  the  women’s  prayers. 

Lrom  Wheeling  Laramie  went  to  Cincinnati  and 
opened  the  same  kind  of  a house,  but  the  women’s 
prayers  followed  him,  and  the  Crusade  was  raging  in 
Cincinnati,  and  in  a very  short  time  he  became  a 
bankrupt  and  closed. 

Lrom  Cincinnati  he  went  to  Cleveland,  attended  the 
temperance  meetings  led  by  women,  signed  the  pledge, 
and  resolved  to  lead  a new  life. 

In  course  of  time,  he  returned  to  Wheeling,  joined 
the  reformed  club,  and  made  a public  confession  of 
his  wrong-doing,  and  begged  to  be  forgiven.  He 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


449 


said  the  prayers  of  the  Christian  women  offered  in  his 
theatre  had  followed  him,  and  been  constantly  ringing 
in  his  soul,  and  he  desired  to  lead  a better  life.  He 
offered  his  large  hall,  over  his  temperance  restaurant, 
free  of  charge  to  the  ladies,  for  their  meetings,  and  he 
has  remained  steadfast  to  his  purpose  to  lead  a better 
life. 

A saloon-keeper  of  Wheeling,  named  Savegaut,  in- 
vited the  ladies  to  hold  a meeting  in  his  saloon.  The 
band,  in  their  rounds  among  the  saloons,  entered  his 
place.  They  were  graciously  received,  and  chairs  were 
brought  for  their  accommodation.  The  crowd  of 

o 

drinking  men  maintained  quiet  during  the  religious 
services.  The  ladies  sang,  prayed,  and  talked  kindly 
to  the  men,  telling  them  of  the  power  of  Christ  to 
save,  and  the  joys  of  a Christian  life.  When  they 
were  about  to  leave  the  saloon,  Savegaut  said: 

“Now,  ladies.  I’ve  listened  to  you,;  you  must  listen 
to  me — you  can’t  leave  here  till  I’m  through.” 

The  roughs,  who  had  been  previously  instructed,  im- 
mediately crowded  in  between  them  and  the  door,  so 
that  escape  would  have  been  impossible,  if  an  attempt 
had  been  made  ; but  no  attempt  was  made.  They  all  sat 
serene  and  self-possessed  amid  the  disgraceful  scenes 
that  followed.  Savegaut  mounted  the  counter,  Avhere 
he  was  accustomed  to  deal  out  drink,  and  heaped  upon 
the  ladies  such  a tirade  of  abuse  as  none  but  those  who 
have  the  poison  of  asps  under  their  tongues  could  find 
language  to  express : 

One  lady  who  was  present  says : 

“ He  literally  exploded,  and  it  was  as  if  a putrid 

29 


450 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING. 


carrion  had  bursted  and  poured  out  a mass  of  corrup- 
tion.” 

Immediately  there  was  a row — fights,  knock-downs, 
wounds  and  bruises,  and  one  broken  nose,  and  one 
broken  finger.  The  police  rushed  in  and  cleared  the 
way  with  their  clubs,  and  delivered  the  ladies.  They 
were  unharmed  and  unterrlfied,  and  a peace  that  pass- 
eth  understanding  filled  their  hearts. 

Such  treatment  of  respectable  women,  by  any  other 
man  than  a liquor-dealer,  would  have  been  visited  by 
an  indignant  public  with  sudden  vengeance,  and  the 
man  would  have  been  glad  to  have  escaped  with  his 
life.  But  liquor-dealers  seem  to  have  the  privilege  to 
commit  all  kinds  of  enormities  without  reproof. 

That  man  was  not  even  censured,  but  has  gone  on 
from  that  day  to  this,  by  the  authority  of  the  city,  in 
his  business  of  criminal-makinof. 

Oh,  chivalry,  where  art  thou  ? 

One  of  the  wards  of  Wheelinor  was  free  from 

o 

saloons,  and  the  w'omen  were  determined  to  keep  it 
clean.  In  the  midst  of  their  fancied  security,  however, 
they  learned  that  application  had  been  made  for  license, 
and  the  applicant  had  received  such  positive  assurance 
from  the  city  council  that  license  would  be  granted, 
that  he  had  rented  a building  at  heavy  cost,  and  was 
preparing  to  open  a saloon. 

The  council  was  to  meet  in  tw'o  days.  There  was 
no  time  to  be  lost.  The  women  got  out  a remon- 
strance at  once,  and,  the  men  of  the  ward  assisting 
them,  every  family  w^as  visited,  and  the  name  of  ever)^ 
man  and  woman  solicited.  And  out  of  a population 
of  3,000  over  2,200  signed  the  remonstrance. 


CRUSADE  AT  WHEELING.  45  I 

When  the  council  met  it  was  presented,  and  in  the 
presence  of  such  strong,  decided  action  the  council 
did  not  dare  to  grant  the  license  they  had  promised. 
So  the  saloon  man  was  left  with  a heavy  rent  to  pay, 
without  hope  of  returns. 

The  battle  goes  on  with  varying  success. 

The  women  were  somewhat  diverted  from  their  own 
legitimate  work,  however,  by  an  attempt,  on  the  part 
of  the  temperance  men,  to  organize.  They  wanted  the 
women  to  aid  them  in  this.  But,  as  It  usually  is  In 
such  cases,  the  men  assumed  the  management,  and 
took  most  of  the  offices,  and  nothing  was  done.  So 
the  women  were  left  to  gather  up  their  wasted  ener- 
gies, and  form  their  own  plans  and  manage  their  own 
work,  if  the  work  was  to  go  on. 

CAPTAIN  JACK  AND  TEMPERANCE. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  J.  McK.  Riley,  for  the  follow- 
ing incident,  connected  with  the  work  in  Wheeling, 
West  Virginia,  in  the  spring  of  1877; 

“There  was  a large  meeting  in  the  Opera  House. 
Francis  Murphy  had  spoken  and  left  for  the  train. 
How  could  the  crowd  be  held  and  the  cause  advanced  ? 

“A  prayer  was  breathed  to  God  for  help.  Just  then 
there  was  a stir — a parting  of  the  crowd,  and  a stal- 
wart man  in  Indian  costume  came  forward,  and,  with  a 
wild  Indian  war-whoop,  that  made  the  blood  fairly  cur- 
dle in  one’s  veins,  signed  the  pledge.  Facing  the  audi- 
ence, and  holding  up  the  pen,  he  challenged  ‘Buffalo 
Bill’  to  do  the  same. 

‘“Come  on  and  sign.  Bill:  you  know  you  ought  to — 


452  CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

I 

you  know  you  drink  more  whiskey  than  is  good  for 
you — you  and  all  your  company  ought  to  come  forward 
and  sign  this  pledge. 

“‘I  don’t  sign  it  because  I drink — I never  drank  a 
drop  in  my  life.  My  mother  died  when  I was  only  a 
little  child,  and  she  said  to  me  just  before  she  died, 
‘Little  Jack,  I want  you  to  promise  me  that  you  will 
never  drink  a drop  of  intoxicating  drinks,’  and  I prom- 
ised her,  and  I have  kept  sacred  the  promise  I made  to 
my  mother.’” 

Then  turnings  to  the  audience  he  made  a thrillinof 
address,  full  of  original  thought.  The  audience  was 
electrified.  Mrs.  Riley  talked  with  him,  urged  him  at 
once  to  abandon  the  stage,  and  give  himself  to  Christ 
and  his  work.  He  was  almost  persuaded,  but  he 
pleaded  previous  engagements.  He  said  that  he  was 
to  pilot  a company  through  the  wilds  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  this  summer,  and  then  he  would  throw 
himself  into  the  temperance  cause. 


DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

I am  indebted  to  Anna  L.  Davidson,  Secretary  of 
one  of  the  local  societies,  for  the  following  facts : 

January,  1874,  two  ladies,  themselves  sufferers  by 
reason  of  intemperance,  requested  the  President  of 
the  Woman’s  Christian  Association  to  hold  meetings 

o 

in  the  interest  of  temperance.  She  deeming  it  advisa- 
ble to  make  it  more  general,  called  the  women  of  the 
various  churches  to  meet  for  prayer  in  the  chapel  of 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 


453 


the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  of  prayer, 
January,  1874.  This  room  being  too  small,  the  meet- 
ing was  removed  to  Wesley  Chapel,  where,  from  day 
to  day,  for  two  weeks,  large  and  intensely  interesting 
temperance  meetings  were  held,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Association.  Many  special 
subjects  of  prayer  were  presented;  a deep  feeling  per- 
vaded every  meeting ; the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  manifest.  On  Sabbath  afternoon  a public  meeting 
was  held  in  Lincoln  Hall,  Dio  Lewis  addressing  a large 
audience.  As  now,  the  Christian  mind  of  Washington 
seemed  thoroughly  roused  on  the  temperance  question, 
a representative  meeting  of  ministers  and  members 
of  the  various  churches  was  held  in  the  parlors  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  to  organize  for  temperance  work.  A 
resolution  was  adopted  requesting  the  ministers  of 
Washington  and  Georgetown  to  appoint,  each,  three 
active  women  to  represent  the  different  churches,  form- 
ing  a general  committee,  to  conduct  meetings  and 
attend  to  the  business  of  a temperance  union.  This 
was  carried  out.  A meeting  was  also  called  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church  to  interest  the  masses  and  perfect 
a general  temperance  organization.  This  was  largely 
attended,  and  after  much  discussion  among  the  brethren 
the  following  plan  was  proposed: 

That  the  field  be  divided  into  five  districts  (embrac- 
ing Georgetown),  in  each  of  which  a daily  morning 
prayer-meeting  should  be  conducted  by  the  women. 
A daily  Union  meeting  in  the  afternoon,  conducted  in 
Central  district  by  various  ministers  in  rotation.  A 
weekly  meeting  in  Central  district,  representing  the 


454 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 


whole,  at  which  reports  from  the  different  districts 
should  be  presented  and  other  business  of  the  Union 
attended  to.  This  plan  was  afterward  perfected,  and 
successfully  carried  out  for  many  months.  Great  en- 
thusiasm prevailed.  The  Union  meetings  were  largely 
attended  and  very  interesting.  Many  ministers  entered 
into  the  work  and  took  part  in  the  exercises.  Numerous 
requests  for  prayer  were  sent  to  the  women’s  meetings 
held  every  morning  in  the  five  districts. 

Very  successful  mass-meetings,  presided  over  and 
conducted  by  women,  were  held  in  various  churches, 
which  were  crowded  to  their  utmost  capacity. 

Saloons  were  visited,  in  a quiet,  unobtrusive  manner, 
with  some  success.  I mention  one  marked  case  of 
rescue  from  one  of  these  dens  of  iniquity.  Two  of  our 
women  enterinof  a saloon  were  shown  into  a back  room 
by  the  keeper  “ to  hold  a meeting,”  he  said.  They 
were  appalled  by  the  sight  of  a young  man  stretched 
upon  a table  dead-drunk  ; they  fell  upon  their  knees 
and  poured  out  heartfelt  prayers  for  all  under  that 
roof  Rising  from  their  devotions  they  found  the  room 
filled  with  men  from  the  bar-room,  the  keeper  standing 
among  them.  They  had  entered  so  silently  that  the 
ladies  were  not  aware  of  their  presence.  All  seemed 
deeply  impressed.  Coming  front  they  perceived  an 
old  and  very  respectable  gentleman  under  the  influ- 
ence of  liquor,  a younger  man  trying  in  vain  to  per- 
suade him  home.  They  joined  their  entreaties ; he 
finally  consented  to  go  if  they  would  accompany  him; 
they  hesitated  but  a moment,  then  each  giving  him  an 
arm  conveyed  him  to  a sorrowful  wife,  who  met  them 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA,  455 

at  the  door.  They  retired,  with  the  promise  of  calling 
next  day.  They  did  so;  found  him  sick.  On  a subse- 
quent visit  he  saw  them,  expressed  his  gratitude  and 
signed  the  pledge,  which  he  kept.  Two  others  went 
into  a saloon  kept  by  a woman  ; she  was  extremely 
abusive,  ordered  them  out,  would  listen  to  nothing 
they  had  to  say.  On  leaving,  one  remarked ; “ We  can- 
not reach  you,  but  God  can."  “God  cannot  shut  me 
up,”  was  her  reply.  A few  weeks  afterwards,  she  was 
thrown  from  her  carriage  near  her  own  premises  and 
instantly  killed.  One  of  the  ladies  in  passing  that  door 
found  it  closed,  with  crape  on  ; an  unfinished  building, 
that  she  was  rearing  as  the  fruit  of  her  gains  and  to 
enlarge  her  means  of  doing  mischief,  was  also  hung 
with  mourninof.  A token  of  God's  visitation. 

Committees,  also,  waited  upon  grocers  and  druggists 
to  reason  with  and  persuade  them  to  desist  from  the 
unholy  traffic. 

In  May  a large  public  meeting  was  held  in  Lincoln 
Hall,  addressed  very  effectively  by  Thane  Miller.  As 
summer  approached,  the  meetings  became  smaller — 
“the  love  of  many  waxed  cold.”  Some  of  the  minis- 
ters, who  at  first  took  active  part,  withdrew  their  influ- 
ence, The  odium  which  always  attaches  to  any  ex- 
traordinary effort  for  the  salvation  of  men  (especially 
woman’s  effort)  operated  upon  many,  even  Christian 
minds,  and  produced  a great  falling  off  in  numbers. 
The  Union  meeting  was  relinquished;  finally  the  faith- 
ful few  reorganized,  and  gathered  weekly  for  prayer, 
with  the  deep  conviction,  that  the  race  is  not  to  the 
swift  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong ; the  word  expressly 


456  CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

declaring  that  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  to 
confound  the  things  that  are  mighty,  and  things  that 
are  not  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are.  Prayer, 
earnest,  persevering  prayer,  ascended  week  after  week 
for  special  cases  presented,  and  for  the  outpouring  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  on  this  city,  in  the  salvation  of  the  in- 
temperate and  in  the  overthrow  of  the  rum  traffic.  We 
were  favored,  in  many  instances,  by  hearing  of  marked 
answers  to  prayer  in  special  cases.  Of  the  general 
effect,  I cite  one  or  two  remarkable  instances: 

During  the  week  of  prayer,  January,  1875,  a minister, 
who  had  been  opposed  to  the  woman’s  movement, 
spoke  to  a crowded  audience  in  Lincoln  Hall  on  the 
effect  of  prayer,  and  said  two  young  men  of  former 
intemperate  habits  called  upon  him  to  converse  on  the 
subject  of  their  soul’s  salvation.  They  had  thrown  away 
the  cup  and  were  deeply  impressed  by  hearing  that  a 
few  women  met  weekly  to  pray  for  the  intemperate. 
Also,  during  the  progress  of  the  daily  meetings,  a 
liquor-dealer  called  on  a friend,  and  said  he  intended 
giving  up  the  sale  of  liquor.  “Why,”  said  the  other, 
“doesn’t  it  pay?”  “ Oh,  yes,  it  pays  well  enough,  but 
how  can  I continue  to  sell  when  300  women  are  on 
their  knees  every  day  praying  against  the  traffic ! ” 
What  a responsibility  this  one  fact  throws  upon  those 
who  weary  in  the  work,  as  well  as  upon  the  whole 
Church ! 

During  the  sweeping  revival  in  this  city,  commencing 
in  February,  1875,  and  continuing  several  months, 
scores  and  hundreds  of  drinking  men,  many  of  the 
most  abandoned,  were  brought  to  the  feet  of  Jesus, 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA, 


457 


clothed  and  in  their  right  mind.  Some  of  these  had 
been  special  subjects  of  prayer.  The  almost  universal 
testimony  of  these  was,  that  the  appetite  for  strong 
drink  had  been  removed.  In  one  of  the  large  churches, 
a minister  stated,  that  he  believed  God  was  now 
answering  the  prayers  that  had  been  ascending  for 
two  years  from  the  circle  of  godly  women,  and  re- 
marked, alluding  to  the  experience  of  reformed  men, 
as  mentioned,  that  he  had  often  attended  their  meet- 
ings, and  heard  repeatedly  the  fervent  petition  that 
the  appetite  might  be  removed. 

Though  prayer  has  been  the  foundation  and  top- 
stone  of  our  work,  we  have  not  been  otherwise  idle. 
The  license  law  of  the  district  makes  it  necessary  that 
the  applicant  for  license  to  open  a saloon  shall  have 
the  consent  or  signature  of  the  majority  of  the  property 
holders  and  residents  on  each  side  of  the  square  in 
which  the  saloon  is  located.  By  consent  of  authorities, 
we  obtained.  In  the  summer  of  1874,  the  applications 
for  license,  with  names  of  signers  attached.  These 
were  all  copied.  Circulars  were  printed,  calling  upon 
these  signers,  in  the  name  of  God  and  humanity,  not 
to  lend  their  names  and  influence  to  such  a destructive 
business.  With  directory  in  hand,  four  thousand  of 
these  circulars  found  their  way,  by  mail,  to  as  many 
citizens.  Among  the  patrons  of  the  saloon-keeper  we 
found  the  names  of  many  church  members,  deacons, 
elders,  vestrymen,  class-leaders,  and  one  parson. 

A number  of  answers  were  received,  some  insolent, 
but  mostly  denials  of  ever  having  perpetrated  so  foul 
an  act;  many  protesting  that  forgery  had  been  com- 


458 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 


mitted.  The  same  course  was  pursued  the  next  year. 
Protests,  or  remonstrances  were  carried  over  the  city 
to  obtain  signatures,  but  few  were  found  willing  to  put 
their  names  in  opposition  to  the  liquor  interest.  Some 
were  afraid  of  having  their  premises  fired ; others  feared 
loss  in  business,  etc. 

Repeated  efforts  have  been  made  upon  police  com- 
missioners, calling  their  attention  to  the  frauds  prac- 
tised, and  to  the  loose  manner  of  proceeding  in 
granting  licenses  without  the  legal  requirement 
having  been  met.  A committee  was  appointed  to 
meet  similar  committees  of  the  various  temperance 
organizations,  to  investigate  more  closely  the  license 
system.  In  the  spring  of  1876  a public  meeting  Avas 
held,  in  which  many  facts  Ave  had  brought  to  light  Avere 
presented ; one  very  noted  AA'as  this : Of  thirteen 
licenses  examined,  after  thoroughly  caiiA'assing  the 
districts  represented,  only  one  AA'as  found  to  have  been 
legally  obtained.  Other  facts  equally  strong  Avere 
brought  to  prove  that  rum  influence  in  the  district 
dominates  the  laA\c 

In  the  latter  part  of  General  Grant’s  term  of  office, 
1877,  our  President,  Mrs.  Linville,  and  \'ice-President, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Noble,  Avith  Mrs.  Dr.  NeAvman,  called  on 
President  Grant,  Avith  reference  to  a bill  Avhich  had 
passed  both  houses  of  Congress,  and  Avhich  Ave  con- 
sidered detrimental  to  the  interests  of  temperance  in 
the  District.  They  requested  that  he  Avould  inter- 
pose the  A^eto  poAver,  and  thus  prevent  its  becoming  a 
laAv.  They  Avere  politely  and  cordially  received.  The 
bill  Avas  vetoed. 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA, 


459 


The  same  ladies,  with  Mrs.  General  Birney  added, 
called  at  the  White  House  soon  after  the  inauguration 
of  President  Hayes,  and,  in  an  interview  with  Mrs. 
Hayes,  represented  the  views  of  the  Woman’s  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union  on  the  subject  of  the  use  of 
wine  at  State  dinners,  respectfully  requesting  her  in- 
fluence in  abolishing  it.  We  all  know  how  nobly  and 
successfully  she  accomplished  it. 

A committee  also  waited  upon  Vice-President 
Wheeler,  with  regard  to  the  sale  of  liquors  in  the 
Capitol.  It  is  a notable  fact  that  a Congressional 
temperance  society  of  forty  years  standing  has  not  yet 
succeeded  in  riddinor  the  national  legislative  halls  of 
this  accursed  traffic. 

An  effort  was  made  upon  churches  and  ministers, 
with  regard  to  the  use  of  alcoholic  wines  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  But  little  has  as 
yet  been  accomplished  in  that  direction. 

An  interesting  feature  in  our  work  has  been,  and 
continues  to  be,  the  work-house  and  jail  visitation. 
This  committee  is  composed  of  godly,  self-sacrificing 
women,  whose  one  object  is  to  seek  and  to  save  the 
lost.  Upon  close  inquiry,  it  has  been  found  that  nine- 
tenths  of  those  confined  in  the  jail,  found  their  way 
there  through  the  influence  of  stronu  drink. 

The  Washington  correspondent  of  the  Hartford 
Times  has  furnished  that  paper  with  some  interesting 
facts,  in  regard  to  these  paupers,  which  we  give: 

“One  of  the  first  men  he  met  there  had  been  at  one 
time  Attorney-General  of  Virginia.  In  his  office  a 
number  of  now  distinguished  lawyers  were  students. 


460  CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

and  they  owe  much  to  his  advice.  His  father  had 
been  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States  and  left 
his  son  wealth.  But  he  drank,  and  sacrificed  distinc- 
tion, fortune,  and  everything  to  his  love  for  drink. 
Another  distinguished  pauper  was  an  ex-Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  California,  and  had  been  esteemed 
one  of  the  most  eloquent  men  of  his  time.  He  came 
to  Washington  expecting  to  get  an  office,  was  dis- 
appointed, took  to  drink,  and  drank  himself  out  of 
pocket,  mind,  and  friends,  and  into  the  poor-house. 
In  his  company  the  correspondent  found  a once 
wealthy  newspaper  editor  and  proprietor  of  New 
York — a man  of  great  ability  and  political  influence. 
This  man  also  sunk  all  he  possessed  in  whiskey,  and 
has  been  for  three  years  in  the  almshouse.  Some- 
times his  friends  take  him  out,  but,  says  the  correspond- 
ent, ‘he  drinks  so  much  that  he  lies  about  the  streets 
and  is  returned  by  the  police.’  A fourth  pauper  had 
been  only  a few  years  ago  a political  power,  special 
agent  of  the  Post  Office  Department,  and  owner  of 
much  property  in  Washington  and  Arkansas.  At  one 
time  he  was  a United  States  detective,  but  while 
drunk  he  ‘gave  away’  the  details  of  a case  that  would 
have  resulted  in  the  capture  of  two  or  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  counterfeit  money,  presses,  plates, 
etc.  For  this  he  was  retired.  When  sober  he  was 
capable  of  doing  remarkable  work.  In  fact,  fortune 
and  fame  were  his  if  he  had  not  allowed  the  taste  for 
liquor  to  grow  on  him.  In  another  branch  of  the 
institution  the  correspondent  found  an  ex-Attorney- 
General  of  North  Carolina.  He  made  many  friends, 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA.  46 1 

drank  much  whiskey,  neglected  his  business  and 
everything  else,  and  drifted  to  the  poor-house.  Says 
the  correspondent:  ‘The  principal  reason  for  his  being 
put  where  he  now  is,  is  that  he  stole  a friend’s  vest 
and  sold  it  for  whiskey.’  To  such  depths  of  degrada- 
tion  will  whiskey  bring  the  strongest  and  ablest  of  us. 
A man  who  was  Stephen  A.  Douglas’  intimate  friend, 
and  who  used  to  speak  from  the  same  platforms  with 
him,  is  also  a Washington  pauper.  When  fortune 
smiled  on  him  he  used  liquor  as  a relish,  and  when 
her,  smiles  turned  to  frowns,  he  took  it  as  an  antidote 
for  sorrow.  It  brought  him  temporary  relief  and  per- 
manent ruin.  Coming  into  the  almshouse  in  the 
‘Black  Maria,’  as  the  correspondent  left  it,  was  an  old, 
white-haired  man,  ‘who  was  at  one  time  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  Michigan  bar.  He  is  the  man 
who  backed  Zach  Chandler,  and  made  him,  politically 
speaking,  what  he  is  to-day.’  And  this  man  of  great 
legal  ability,  political  influence  sufficient  to  make  and  un- 
make men,  and  much  wealth,  is  now  a pauper.  Why? 
Because  he  allowed  whiskey  to  obtain  the  mastery 
over  him,  as  did  all  the  others  herein  referred  to.” 

In  the  work-house,  a still  larger  proportion,  if  not  all, 
are  addicted  to  this  vice.  The  latter  place  has  been 
removed  to  the  county;  but  a marked  change  was 
visible  in  their  appearance  and  deportment.  The  jail 
is  now  the  object  of  special  attention,  and  the  women 
visiting  are  truly  welcome,  not  only  to  the  prisoners, 
but  the  keepers  express  their  approbation  and  afford 
every  facility  for  the  instruction  of  inmates.  The  suc- 
cess attendant  upon  the  faithful  labors  of  our  women 


462  CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

is  truly  wonderful.  Many  cases  of  undoubted  con- 
version and  reformation  have  taken  place;  some  that 
had  fallen  into  a snare  through  strong  drink  and  were 
unjustly  incarcerated,  have  been  restored  to  liberty, 
to  society,  and  to  the  church;  here  we  would  obsen^e 
that  in  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  we  find 
ready  helpers  in  restoring  the  lost.  These  same 
women  do  not  let  go  the  restored  ones,  but  follow 
them  up,  and  strive  to  find  employment  for  them. 
Many  from  that  prison  will  bless  God  to  all  eternity 
for  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

Another  branch  of  our  work  which  has  occupied 
considerable  time  and  attention  has  been  the  estab- 
lishment and  operation  of  the  temperance  lunch- 
rooms. The  Holly  Tree,  at  the  time  of  its  opening, 
was  the  only  place  of  the  kind  in  Washington, 
and  was  exactly  fitted  to  meet  a great  want  in  this 
community.  Life  in  Washington  is  more  superficial 
than  elsewhere,  hlen  and  women,  separated  from 
home  and  friends,  a floating  population,  found  here  a 
rest  and  quiet  not  to  be  met  elsewhere.  No  smell  of 
rum,  or  fumes  of  tobacco,  pervaded  the  air;  no  un- 
sightly spittoon  offended  the  eye;  cleanliness,  comfort, 
woman’s  influence,  gave  refinement  and  elevation  to 
the  character  of  the  place.  Nor  is  this  all.  We  could 
give  you  instances  of  entire  reformation  in  the  life  of 
those  brought  under  its  kindly,  genial  influence. 

The  popularity  of  this  lunch-room  (its  patrons 
numbering  hundreds)  has  led  to  the  establishment 
of  others,  free  from  the  temptation  of  the  cup.  Tem- 
perance dining-rooms  at  cheap  rates,  and  dair}--rooms 


CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA.  463 

where  cheap,  wholesome  lunch  can  be  procured  at  all 
hours,  are  springing  up  in  every  part  of  the  city,  so 
that  we. almost  feel  as  if  our  work  in  that  direction 
was  accomplished,  and  that  we  shall  soon  be  at  liberty 
to  give  our  whole  attention  elsewhere. 

We  have  been  striving  this  past  year  to  enlarge  our 
borders  by  forming  auxiliaries,  and  have  clearly  seen 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  directing  our  way,  have 
acknowledged  His  agency  in  removing  obstructions 
and  overcoming  opposition.  Churches  that  were 
closed  upon  us  have  been  opened,  ministers  in  opposi- 
tion have  not  only  yielded,  but  rendered  assistance, 
and  in  those  places  where  the  greatest  obstacles 
obtained,  great  favor  is  shown.  We  have  gone  out 
of  the  city  into  neighboring  villages,  held  successful 
and  interesting  mass-meetings.  Ministers  have  yielded 
their  churches  for  Sabbath  evening  service,  as  we 
could  reach  a larger  portion  of  the  people  on  that 
evening.  We  go  through  the  audiences  to  privately 
warn,  and  entreat  to  sign  the  pledge  ; some  who  pub- 
licly asked  for  prayers  have  since  been  converted. 
We  can  say  of  our  work,  as  Mr.  Wesley  did  of  his, 
“The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us.” 

I add  the  following  from  the  report  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  one  of  the  societies.  Miss  R.  E.  Hartwell : 

“We  have  been  granted  interviews  by  various 
officials  of  the  United  States  and  municipal  govern- 
ment, in  regard  to  framing  new  laws,  and  the  more 
vigorous  execution  of  those  already  existing.  In  every 
instance  our  petitions  and  statements  have  been  cour- 
teously received,  and  we  believe  that  in  the  new  plans 


464  CRUSADE  AT  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

which  are  being  developed  at  police  head-quarters  God 
is  honoring  the  many  prayers  we  have  offered  in  this 
direction. 

“And  who  shall  determine  how  much  the  recent  re- 
vival of  religion  in  this,  as  well  as  in  other  cities,  is 
owing  to  the  prayers  of  earnest,  faithful,  loving  women, 
who  are  so  continually  besieging  the  Throne  of  Grace 
for  the  descent  of  the  Spirit  of  God  and  the  over- 
throw and  subjection  of  that  monster — appetite  for 
strong  drink. 

“ More  than  two  hundred  letters  have  been  written 
to  various  persons  on  the  temperance  question ; and 
in  almost  every  instance  where  information  has  been 
solicited  the  replies  have  been  satisfactory.  I would 
refer  to  those  addressed  to  committees  of  Congress, 
the  Police  Board,  Board  of  Health,  and  others,  and 
thank  them  for  their  uniform  kindness  and  courtesy. 

“ The  use  of  fermented  wine  at  the  Lord’s  Supper 
has  deeply  engaged  our  attention  ; and  last  autumn 
we  addressed  an  appeal  to  Christian  ministers,  urging 
them  to  discard  it,  as  several  cases  have  come  to  our 
knowledge,  where  the  recently  reformed  have  been 
tempted  at  the  very  altar  to  which  they  had  gone  for 
strength  to  battle  against  the  foe,  and  have  fallen, 
in  some  instances  never  again  to  regain  their  lost 
manhood.” 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


< ^ ^ » 

CHAPTER  VII. 

PITTSBURGH,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

I GATHER  the  facts  of  work  in  this  city  from  state- 
ments by  Mrs.  J.  S.  Collins  and  Mrs.  W.  M.  Gormly. 

After  meeting  in  Alliance  Hall  several  times,  for 
consultation  and  prayer,  a mass-meeting  was  held  in 
the  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  February  26th,  1874. 

On  the  2d  of  March  an  organization  was  effected, 
and  Mrs.  J.  S.  Collins  elected  President,  and  other 
officers  chosen. 

The  next  meeting  was  held  in  the  United  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  The  large  edifice  was  densely  packed. 
The  principal  address  was  made  by  John  B.  Gough. 
In  closing,  he  wished  the  women  of  Pittsburgh  God- 
speed in  their  efforts  to  overthrow  the  liquor  traffic. 

Soon  after,  one  hundred  women,  headed  by  the  offi- 
cers, marched,  two  and  two,  to  the  office  of  the  Mayor 
of  Pittsburgh,  to  ask  him  to  enforce  the  Sunday  closing 
law.  After  a brief  interview,  and  prayer,  the  mayor 
promised,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  see  to  it  that 
all  saloons  should  be  closed  on  the  Sabbath. 

They  then  waited  on  the  Mayor  of  Allegheny,  to  make 
the  same  request,  which  was  acceded  to.  For  two  or 
30  (465) 


466 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


three  Sabbaths  there  was  a marked  improvement,  no 
places  being  visibly  open  for  the  sale  of  liquors.  But 
very  soon  it  was  apparent  that  the  mayor  did  not  care 
to  enforce  the  law,  even  when  cases  were  reported  to 
him. 

During  all  this  time  much  discussion  had  taken  place 
as  to  methods  of  work,  and,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1874, 
the  street  work  began.  Mrs.  Gormly  says: 

All  along  the  route  the  crowd  increased,  until  we 
reached  the  Scotch  Hill  House,  corner  Fourth  avenue 
and  Ross  street,  kept  by  John  McFadden.  Permis- 
sion was  asked  to  hold  services  inside,  which  was 
gruffly  refused.  The  Crusade  was  opened  on  the 
pavement  by  singing  ‘All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’ 
name,’  the  band  kneeling.  Mrs.  Younuson  offered  a 
fervent  appeal  to  the  throne  of  grace.  Amid  all  these 
exercises  a howling  mob,  with  oaths  and  blasphemous 
curses,  were  calling  for  beer  and  whiskey.  The  pro- 
prietor and  a boy  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  capacity 
to  supply  the  demand.  It  now  became  necessary  to 
send  for  aid.  The  acting  mayor  sent  a detail  of  police. 
The  scene  here  beggared  description.  Beer  wagons 
drove  up  and  were  soon  filled  by  the  rabble,  as  were 
all  the  trees  and  tree-boxes  adjacent,  and  high  carnival 
was  held  in  the  devil’s  cause. 

The  next  place  visited  was  the  wholesale  house  of 
Dillinger  & Stevenson,  on  First  avenue.  Here  the 
ladies  were  admitted,  and  knelt  and  prayed  between 
rows  of  I'quor  barrels.  The  proprietors  were  urged 
to  sign  the  pledge,  which  they  refused.  We  then 
withdrew. 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


467 


On  Wood  street,  on  passing  a liquor  house,  the 
crowd  had  attained  large  proportions.  We  were 
treated  with  taunts  and  jeers  until  we  arrived  at  our 
rooms.  After  lunch  and  devotional  exercises,  the  line 
of  march  was  again  resumed.  The  first  place  visited 
was  the  Monongahela  House.  Mr.  Crossan  cour- 
teously received  us,  and  tendered  us  the  use  of  one 
of  his  parlors,  in  which  we  held  our  exercises — a large 
and  orderly  gathering  being  present,  many  signing 
the  pledge.  The  acting  mayor  gave  a detail  of  police, 
which  accompanied  us. 

We  next  visited  the  La  Belie  House,  directly  oppo- 
site the  Monongahela  House.  Here  the  crowd  was 
immense.  Mr.  Bailey,  the  proprietor,  had  sent  an 
invitation  to  us  to  visit  his  house,  and  had  made  ample 
preparation,  so  far  as  his  room  permitted.  Mr. 
Bailey  and  the  police  did  everything  in  their  power, 
under  the  circumstances,  to  keep  order.  Although 
demonstrative,  the  crowd  was  not  insulting.  “We’ll 
wait  till  Jesus  calls  ” was  sung,  the  proprietor  joining 
heartily  with  us. 

Our  next  visit  was  at  the  Alden  House,  on  Wood 
street,  where  we  were  cordially  welcomed  by  the  pro- 
prietor. The  crowd  was  most  respectful,  evidently 
being  of  a better  class.  They  all  joined  us  in  singing 
“We  praise  Thee,  O God.”  While  we  knelt  in 
prayer,  being  led  by  Mrs.  Youngson,  a canary  bird, 
hanging  in  a cage  near  a window,  commenced  to  sing, 
and  at  every  pathetic  appeal,  he  sent  forth  his  beauti- 
ful notes,  making  the  event  particularly  impressive. 

April  the  9th  we  visited  the  Lion  Hotel,  where  we 


468 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


were  admitted,  and  courtesy  extended,  the  proprietor 
closing  up  the  bar,  suffering  no  liquor  to  be  sold  dur- 
ing our  stay.  As  we  were  leaving  this  place  Chief-of- 
Police  Irwin  presented  an  appearance,  and  announced 
that  we  were  no  longer  to  continue  in  our  Crusade,  as 
it  was  the  orders  from  the  police  committee.  We 
returned  to  our  rooms  for  consultation. 

It  soon  became  known  that  no  order  had  been 
issued  by  the  mayor.  We  obtained  legal  advice  from 
the  United  States  District  Attorney,  David  Reed.  He 
informed  us  we  could  not  be  arrested  unless  a procla- 
mation was  issued  by  the  mayor.  The  sick-chamber 
of  the  mayor  was  invaded  by  prominent  wholesale 
liquor  men,  and  the  coveted  proclamation  was  ob- 
tained, forbidding  us,  under  penalty  of  arrest,  to  hold 
services  on  the  streets  in  the  future.  Wishinq-  to  test 
which  was  in  power  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh — God  or 
the  devil — we  continued  our  Crusade  in  the  afternoon, 
visiting  the  wholesale  houses  of  Anderson  & Gamble, 
hlr.  Hamberger,  and  Littell  & Mechling.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  last-named  firm  became  greatly  enraged  at 
our  appearance,  hlr.  Mechling  skipping  over  rows  of 
barrels,  calling  lustily  for  the  police  to  save  them,  in 
their  legalized  traffic,  from  the  women,  while  Mr.  Lit- 
tell, in  an  outrageous  manner,  stood  heaping  vile  epi- 
thets on  us,  and  as  one  of  our  number  was  engaged 
in  prayer  on  his  behalf,  his  hands  were  over  her  face 
as  if  ready  to  tear  her  to  pieces.  His  excited  and 
angry  talk  had  attracted  a very  large  crowd,  and  his 
insultinq  words  had  aroused  the  indignation  of  the 
bystanders,  and  a riot  was  imminent. 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


469 


The  Crusade  was  continued  for  several  weeks, 
without  any  interference  from  the  authorities,  the 
ladies  enduring  every  indignity ; dogs  were  set  on  us, 
hut,  to  the  credit  of  the  noble  animals,  they  refused  to 
attack  us;  barrels  of  liquor  were  rolled  toward  us; 
beer  wagons  were  driven  against  us ; and  we  were 
drenched  by  the  hose  of  hydrants,  turned  upon  us. 

May  2 1 St,  while  holding  services  at  a wholesale 
liquor  house.  Lieutenant  Hager,  with  two  officers, 
appeared  on  the  scene,  requesting  an  onward  move. 
The  request  was  not  heeded.  A loud  command  rang 
out:  “Policemen,  keep  the  pavement  clear.”  At  this 
time  some  high  words  took  place  between  Lieutenant 
Hager  and  Mr.  Andrew  Brice,  who  said,  “ Before  I 
would  do  such  dirty  work,  I would  tramp  my  uniform 
in  the  gutter.”  The  lieutenant  replied : “ If  you  don’t 
keep  quiet  I will  arrest  you  and  every  person  on  the 
pavement.”  Approaching  us  he  said : “ I shall  have 
to  obey  my  orders  and  arrest  you  all.”  The  president 
replied:  “We  will  not  go  until  we  see  the  proper 
warrant.” 

After  asking  the  ladies  if  they  refused  to  consider 
themselves  under  arrest,  Hager  helped  himself  to  a 
pledge,  and  on  the  back  of  it  proceeded  to  write  the 
names  as  far  as  he  could  succeed  in  getting  them. 
Armed  with  this  list  he  proceeded  to  the  mayor’s 
office,  and  warrants  were  filled  out  for  our  arrest, 
which  were  immediately  executed.  The  procession 
then  proceeded  to  the  mayor’s  office.  In  the  mean- 
time the  acting  mayor  and  clerk  were  actively  engaged 
in  filling  up  informations  against  the  band  for  disor- 


470 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


derly  conduct,  the  members  thereof  freely  giving  their 
names. 

During  the  interim,  religious  exercises  were  held, 
and  tracts  and  pledges  were  distributed  to  the  specta- 
tors, reporters,  acting  mayor  and  his  clerk.  Upon  the 
arrival  of  the  complainants  and  our  counsel — for  whom 
we  had  a tedious  wait — the  case  was  opened,  the  bur- 
then of  the  liquor  men’s  complaint  being  interruption 
of  business.  The  evidence  being  of  a sickly  nature, 
we  were  discharged  with  a reprimand. 

The  mayor  said  that  he  was  a friend  of  the  ladies  as 
long  as  they  obeyed  the  law,  but  if  they  did  wrong,  he 
would  be  compelled  to  enforce  the  law  to  the  letter. 
Accordingly,  he  dismissed  the  case,  bidding  us  “go  and 
sin  no  more.”  The  magistrate  had  scarcely  concluded, 
when  we  commenced  singing,  “ Praise  God,  from  whom 
all  blessings  flow,”  and  continued  to  slno^  until  the 
spectators  were  cleared  from  outside  the  bar.  Thus 
ended  the  first  arrest. 

On  the  following  day  the  Crusade  was  resumed. 
While  holding  services  at  Hostetter  & Smith’s  Stom- 
ach Bitter  house,  one  of  the  mayor’s  police.  Lieutenant 
Gordon,  stepped  up  and  asked  for  the  names  of  the 
members  of  the  band.  They  declined  to  accommodate 
him,  but  by  some  means  he  obtained  the  name  of  Mr. 
W att  Black,  who  always  accompanied  his  mother,  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  mayor’s  office  to  obtain  a 
warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Black  and  the  Crusading 
Band. 

While  holding  services  at  the  La  Belle  House,  on 
Smithfield  street,  Detective  Wilmot  presented  a war- 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


471 


rant.  After  the  arrest,  the  band,  headed  by  the  detec- 
tive and  other  officers,  marched  up  Smithfield  street, 
singing  as  they  proceeded,  and,  to  our  surprise,  as 
well  as  the  hundreds  of  spectators  who  were  following 
us,  we  were  led  to  the  lock-up  in  Diamond,  alley.  As 
soon  as  those  under  arrest  filed  in,  the  doors  were 
closed  and  a strong  guard  placed  to  keep  them  from 
being  forced  open.  To  make  it  as  uncomfortable  as 
possible,  the  windows  were  tightly  closed,  and  remained, 
so  until  one  of  the  band,  being  overcome,  fainted,  when 
they  were  compelled  to  open  them. 

As  the  deputy  mayor  was  somewhat  tardy  in  pre- 
senting himself,  religious  services  were  conducted  for 
some  time.  On  being  notified,  our  counsel,  W.  K. 
Jennings,  Esq.,  promptly  appeared.  Immediately  after, 
the  acting  mayor  took  his  seat  and  commenced  the 
hearing.  The  information  only  contained  the  names 
of  three  of  our  number,  viz.:  Watt  Black,  Esq.,  his 
mother  and  Mrs.  Vanhorn.  The  officer,  in  testifying, 
stated  that  those  three  obstructed  the  sidewalk,  by 
singing  and  praying.  On  cross-examination  he  stated 
there  were  whiskey-barrels  obstructing  the  sidewalk, 
which  he  neither  ordered  to  move  on,  nor  arrested. 
After  arguments  by  counsel,  the  mayor’s  decision  was 
a fine  of  one  hundred  dollars  on  Mr.  Black ; Mrs. 
Black  and  Mrs.  Vanhorn,  twenty-five  dollars  each — 
which  was  greeted  with  hisses.  Mrs.  Black  arose  and 
indignantly  protested  against  paying  one  cent  of  the 
fines,  saying  they  would  go  to  the  workhouse  or  jail. 
The  mayor  here  stated  that  the  ladies  must  be  treated 
as  other  prisoners,  and  if  they  wished  to  take  an  ap- 


472 


CRUSADE  AT  PIITSBURGH. 


peal,  the  fines  must  be  paid.  At  this  juncture,  W.  D. 
Moore,  Esq.,  believed  to  be  in  the  employ  of  the  liquor 
league,  stepped  forward  and  gave  his  check  for  the 
amount  of  the  fines,  which  was  strongly  protested 
against  by  the  defendants.  The  mayor  having  received 
the  money,  we  were  discharged,  and  withdrew  from 
the  lock-up  singing,  “Am  I a Soldier  of  the  Cross.” 

Saturday,  May  23d,  we  met  in  our  room  at  2 p.  m., 
engaged  in  devotional  exercises,  invoking  the  aid  of 
the  Master.  We  then  took  up  the  line  of  march,  vis- 
iting the  establishment  of  Dillinger  & Stevenson,  on 
First  avenue.  We  were  interrupted  by  the  police — 
they  leaving  to  procure  warrants  for  our  arrest.  We 
proceeded  to  the  store  of  Weiler  & Brother,  on  the 
same  avenue,  near  Smithfield  street.  On  commencing 
our  exercises  a scene  most  disgraceful  ensued.  As 
soon  as  the  voice  of  prayer  was  heard,  a German  cop- 
per shop  immediately  opposite  brought  their  stills  and 
kettles  to  the  front,  and  all  hands  commenced  pound- 
ine  and  making  a deafening  noise.  The  friends  of 
alcohol  everywhere  seemed  to  be  about  us,  yelling  at 
^the  top  of  their  voices ; and  to  complete  the  effort  of 
the  hour,  ten  policemen,  who  were  detailed  to  arrest 
us,  made  their  appearance,  and  informed  us  we  were 
under  arrest.  The  warrant  being  presented,  we  sur- 
rendered and  accompanied  the  officers  to  the  lock-up, 
an  immense  crowd  accompanying  us.  As  we  entered, 
the  iron  gate  was  thrown  open  that  the  culprits  might 
pass  into  their  cells.  Paul  and  Silas  like,  we  prayed, 
and  sang  praises  to  God.  No  doubt,  like  the  keepers 
of  old,  they  trembled,  but  did  not  spring  in  to  ask  what 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSDURGH. 


473 


they  must  do  to  be  saved.  This  created  a great  stir 
among  the  peopie.  Had  they  known  that  we  were 
locked  behind  the  bars  with  the  vagrants,  the  buiiding 
wouid  have  been  torn  to  pieces  in  a very  short  time. 

The  case  being  opened,  the  usuai  questioning  and 
cross-questioning  was  gone  through  with,  and  was  con- 
ciuded  by  the  mayor  imposing  a fine  of  thirty  doiiars 
upon  each ; but  subsequentiy  finding  he  was  not  iikeiy 
to  get  rid  of  us,  he  reduced  it  to  ten  doiiars.  A gen- 
tieman  stepped  forward  and  fiiied  a check  for  three 
hundred  and  thirty  doiiars,  and  we  were  immediately 
discharged. 

Acting  Mayor  McMasters  said : “I  am  very  happy  to 
announce  to  the  ladies  and  the  public  here  assembled, 
that  I received  this  morninof  a writ  of  certioi'ari  direct- 
ing  that  the  record  in  the  case  disposed  of  Thursday 
last  should  be  transmitted  to  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas.  The  questions  of  law  involved  will  thus  be  ex- 
plicitly laid  down  by  a tribunal  whose  purity  and  integ- 
rity has  never  been  called  in  question.  The  citizens, 
and  the  ladies  in  particular,  and  I will,  I am  confident, 
abide  the  decision  of  that  tribunal.  In  view  of  an  early 
hearing,  I have  decided  to  defer  further  action  in  the 
cases  now  under  consideration,  until  the  court  shall 
have  rendered  a decision  in  the  case  pending  before 
it.  I have  instructed  the  clerk  to  hand  back  the 
money  deposited  for  the  appearance  of  the  ladies.” 

No  sooner  had  we  emerged  from  the  lock-up  than 
a tremendous  burst  of  applause  arose  from  the  vast 
multitude.  The  mayor,  police,  and  our  accusers  were 
greeted  with  groans  and  hisses.  As  we  moved  away 


474 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH, 


to  the  Alliance  rooms,  the  crowd  increased  at  every 
step,  the  men  who  were  standing  along  the  curbstones 
respectfully  raising  their  hats.  Before  we  reached  our 
head-quarters  they  were  densely  packed  by  an  excited 
crowd,  expecting  to  hear  addresses  of  approbation. 
The  halls  and  stairways  were  crowded,  as  were  the 
streets  also,  so  as  to  make  eo^ress  or  incfress  almost 
impossible.  As  soon  as  order  could  be  had,  Hon.  B. 
C.  Christy  was  called  upon,  who  arose  and  made  a few 
congratulatory  remarks,  complimenting  us  on  the 
patience  and  fortitude  with  which  we  had  undergone 
our  trials.  He  believed  that  we  were  actuated  by 
motives  true  and  pure  as  heaven. 

We  then  adjourned  to  Duquesne  Way,  on  the 
Allegheny  river,  in  front  of  Rhodes’  brewery,  making 
use  of  one  of  his  wagons  from  which  to  denounce  their 

o 

infamous  traffic.  Several  enthusiastic  addresses  were 
made.  It  being  late  on  Saturday  evening,  we  then 
adjourned. 

On  Sabbath,  several  sermons  were  preached,  de- 
nouncincr  the  evil,  and  encouragincr  us  in  the  work. 

Thursday,  May  27th,  we  met  at  our  rooms,  which 
were  densely  crowded.  After  devotional  exercises, 
we  formed  in  line  and  proceeded  to  the  court-house ; 
and  because  of  the  publicity  the  papers  had  given  the 
case,  the  streets  were  filled  with  an  immense  throng. 
When  we  arrived  at  the  court-house,  the  yard  and 
building  were  so  packed  that  the  officers  had  great 
difficulty  in  opening  up  a passage  for  us  to  enter. 
Promptly  at  ten  a.  m.,  Judges  Sterritt,  Stowe,  and 
Collier  entered  and  took  their  seats  on  the  bench. 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


475 


After  proclamation  by  the  crier,  the  case  was  opened. 
The  attorneys  stated  their  pleas  to  the  judges,  who, 
upon  consultation,  delivered  their  opinions  as  follows : 
Judge  Stowe  stated,  “Singing  and  praying  upon  the 
public  streets  is  not  disorderly  conduct.”  Further,  the 
learned  judge  informed  Mr.  Coyle,  the  acting  mayor’s 
counsel,  that  his  argument  partook  of  shallowness  of 
pretext  more  than  anything  else.  Concurred  in  by 
the  other  judges,  judge  Stowe  gave  the  following  de- 
cision : “ The  decision  of  the  acting  mayor  should  be 
set  aside;  restitution  awarded;  fines  and  costs  returned ; 
the  city  pay  the  costs ;”  and  we  were  discharged  from 
custody  much  to  the  chagrin  of  the  acting  mayor,  who 
was  present,  his  countenance  indicating  great  dis- 
comfiture. As  we  emerged  from  the  court-house,  it 
was  plain  to  be  seen  on  which  side  the  sympathy  was. 
Cheer  after  cheer  greeted  us.  We  took  up  our  line 
of  march  for  the  Smithfield  Street  M.  E.  Church,  On 
our  entering,  the  large  auditorium  was  immediately 
packed.  Order  being  restored,  we  engaged  in  singing, 
prayer,  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  deliver- 
ance. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  thirty-three 
arrested  and  imprisoned : Mrs.  J.  S.  Collins,  Mr.  A. 
Watt  Black,  Miss  McClung,  Mrs.  Van  Horn,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Moffett,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Matchett,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Morris,  Mrs.  Alice  Gillchrist,  Mrs.  Macken,  Miss  E.  B. 

Carmichael,  Mrs.  Johnston,  Mrs.  M.  Gray,  Mrs. , 

Mrs.  J.  I.  Logan,  Mrs.  Grace  Hopeful,  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Tutell,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Black,  Mrs.  A.  Hill,  Miss  A.  A. 
Starr,  Miss  Pearl  Starr,  Miss  Lee  A.  Starr,  Mrs. 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


^^76 

Youngson,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Reese,'  of  Alliance,  O.,  Mrs. 
John  Foster,  Mrs.  Mary  Caldwell,  Mrs.  Samuel  Al- 
linder,  Mrs.  W.  M.  Gormly,  Miss  E.  Beeson,  Mrs. 
D.  N.  Courtney,  Mrs.  Jane  Nelson,  Mrs.  Martha 
Woods,  Miss  E.  J.  Foster,  Miss  Bessie  Black. 

The  Crusade  continued.  Many  devices  were  re- 
sorted to  by  the  liquor-dealers  to  drive  us  away.  For 
instance,  the  scattering  of  cayenne  pepper,  burning 
brimstone  in  the  vault  under  the  pavement.  This  ruse 
they  soon  abandoned,  as  we  caused  it  to  recoil  on 
them  by  covering  the  grating,  thereby  turning  the 
fumes  into  their  houses.” 

I have  recently  learned  that  Blackmore  was  Mayor 
of  Pittsburgh  during  the  Crusade,  and  Samuel  McMas- 
ters  acting  mayor,  Blackmore  being  an  invalid. 
McMasters  did  as  he  pleased,  and  it  is  generally 
believed  that  the  liquor-sellers  paid  him  (IMdMasters) 
to  prosecute  the  ladies,  and  bring  them  into  disgrace, 
if  possible,  and  thus  stop  the  Crusade. 

The  true  character  of  McMasters,  the  acting  mayor, 
who  caused  their  arrest,  and  by  whom  they  were  tried 
and  convicted,  has  recently  been  brought  to  light,  he 
being  convicted  and  sentenced  to  seven  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary, for  the  double  crime  of  adidte^y  and  aboj'tion, 
which  resulted  in  the  death  of  mother  and  child.  The 
victim,  a young  girl,  accompanied  McMasters  to  the 
Centennial,  and  he  effected  her  ruin ; and  to  con- 
ceal the  black  crime,  he  committed  another,  even 
blacker. 

So  this  official  ruffian  stands  out  before  the  public 
in  his  true  light.  Others  who  were  active  in  opposing 


CRUSADE  AT  PITTSBURGH. 


477 


the  Crusade  have  fallen  into  disgrace,  or  have  been 
forced  to  fly  to  escape  justice. 

The  howling  mob  that  struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of 
the  people  of  Pittsburgh  during  the  riot  of  July,  1877, 
and  made  its  streets  red  with  human  blood,  was  com- 
posed largely  of  the  very  same  class  of  drunkards, 
tramps,  and  hoodlums  that  gathered  at  the  call  of  the 
saloon-keepers  to  insult  and  howl  down  respectable 
Christian  women,  who  dared  publicly  to  protest  against 
the  liquor  trafflc  by  song  and  prayer. 

If  the  whole  moral  influence  of  the  city  had  been 
brought  to  bear  at  that  time  on  the  liquor'  traffic,  and 
the  saloons  had  been  closed  and  the  business  over- 
thrown, the  riot  of  1877  would  not  have  been  possible. 

But  the  people  sustained  the  rum-power  rather  than 
the  Crusade.  And  adown  the  very  same  streets,  where 
the  bands  of  women  had  marched,  in  the  spirit  of  love, 
and  with  the  songs  of  Zion  on  their  lips,  to  win  men 
from  sin  by  prayers  and  tears,  an  angry,  howling 
mob,  with  oaths  and  torches,  with  knives  and  pistols, 
surged  and  yelled,  and  rioted,  with  hellish  hate  and 
murderous  intent.  The  city  had  “ sown  to  the  wind,” 
and  she  “ reaped  the  whirlwind.” 

We  all  know  now,  as  we  never  could  have  known 
without  the  bitter,  costly  lesson  of  the  riot  of  1877, 
how  much  the  women  of  this  land  risked  in  the  Cru- 
sade, and  how  wondrously  God  shielded  eve7'y  one  of 
them^dcs.,  going  forth  in  His  name,  they  walked  through 
these  very  same  mobs,  7mharmed. 


478 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGHENY. 


ALLEGHENY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  Allegheny  City  Temperance  Society,  known  as 
“ Mrs.  Swift’s  Band,”  was  organized  as  a branch  of  the 
Women’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  of  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  March  25th,  1874.  The  prep- 
aration for  the  great  work  differed  in  nowise  from 
that  of  similar  organizations  in  other  places.  Daily 
prayer-meetings  were  held,  and  faint  hearts  grew 
courageous,  and  weak  hands  strong  to  undertake 
what  so  appalled  sensitive  natures.  On  the  morning 
of  April  4th,  1874,  after  an  unusually  solemn  prayer- 
meeting, the  band  started  from  Rev.  Dr.  Swift’s 
church,  to  make  the  first  visit  to  saloons.  The  suc- 
ceeding three  months  this  method  of  working  was 
faithfully  adhered  to,  and  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
saloons  were  visited;  forty  of  this  number  received 
two  visits  each,  and  a few  even  three.  In  addition  to 
the  saloons,  some  of  the  mills  and  work-shops,  as  well 
as  a larofo  number  of  families,  were  visited.  In  the 
case  of  families,  the  ladies  went  in  committees  of  two 
or  three.  Many  persons  signed  the  pledge,  and  while 
some  have  not  had  strength  to  keep  it,  we  rejoice  that 
others,  whose  first  serious  impressions  were  received 
from  the  saloon  and  curbstone  exercises  of  the  “pray- 
ing women,”  are  now  leading  sober  and  useful  lives. 
The  churches  opened  their  doors  for  our  prayer- 
meetings,  and  two  each  day  were  sustained.  A gen- 
eral meeting  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  for 
ladies  only.  We  were  greatly  encouraged  by  the  in- 
terest manifested  by  the  clergymen  of  the  city.  Their 
prayers,  their  words  of  counsel  and  of  sympathy, 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGHENY. 


479 


nerved  die  shrinking  women  to  go  on  with  a work 
so  fraught  with  disheartening  and  revolting  details. 
Carrying  the  meetings  from  church  to  church  was  at- 
tended with  many  disadvantages,  and  several  of  our 
earnest  supporters  conceived  the  idea  of  providing  us 
with  a “local  habitation  and  a name.”  A very  elegant 
building  had  been  erected  in  a fashionable  quarter  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  a “ drinking  palace.”  Be- 
fore its  completion,  the  owner  became  involved,  and  it 
was  offered  for  sale.  It  was  purchased  by  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterians  for  a Theological  Seminary. 
They  did  not  require  the  whole  building,  and  rented 
for  our  use  .a  large,  handsome  room.  This  very 
building,  which  was  designed  to  destroy  men,  body 
and  soul,  was  occupied  by  those  whose  every  effort 
was  to  “ establish,  strengthen,  and  save  them.”  Our 
friends  furnished  the  room  with  grreat  comfort  and 
taste,  and  on  Monday  evening,  July  6th,  1874,  Crusade 
Hall  was  formally  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  and 
the  temperance  cause. 

Many  friends  now  suggested  to  us  the  propriety  of 
becoming  an  independent  organization,  as  Allegheny 
City  and  Pittsburgh  are  distinct  municipalities.  Con- 
sidering the  matter  from  every  point  of  view,  we  de- 
cided that  our  best  interests  would  be  subserved  by 
severing  our  connection  with  the  Central  Union  of 
Pittsburgh,  which  was  done,  July  25th,  1874.  As  the 
summer  advanced,  our  numbers  rapidly  diminished, 
leaving  us  too  weak  to  pursue  the  work  as  heretofore. 
Our  prayer-meetings  were  reduced  to  one  afternoon 
and  one  evening  meeting  weekly. 


480 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGHENY. 


But  the  disastrous  flood  by  which  our  city  was 
visited,  in  July,  1874,  loudly  called  for  help  from  will- 
ing hands.  Immediately,  our  temperance  band  offered 
its  services  to  the  relief  committee,  and  the  quiet 
room,  where  the  gentle  voices  of  women  had  ascended 
in  prayer  and  praise,  grew  vocal  with  the  hum  of  sew- 
ing-machines, and  Crusade  Hall  became  one  of  the 
most  important  relief  head-quarters.  Immense  quan- 
tities of  material  were  converted  into  substantial 
clothing,  and  distributed  with  the  utmost  system  and 
despatch.  Numbers  of  families  were  visited,  receiving 
not  only  material  aid,  but  the  priceless  boon  of  a sym- 
pathy which  thought  it  no  toil  to  brave  the  horrors  of 
the  desolated  district  and  see  the  victims  of  the  disas- 
ter in  the  ruins  of  their  once  peaceful  homes.  The 
grand  object  we  had  in  view  was  not  lost  sight  of  in 
these  trying  days.  We  had  access  to  many  homes 
where  intemperance  was  no  stranger,  and  where  hearts 
were  softened  by  great  suffering  seed  was  sown  which 
we  can  hope  has  borne  fruit. 

After  the  necessity  of  this  work  had  passed  but  little 
was  done,  beyond  the  sustaining  of  the  two  prayer- 
meetings. 

As  our  members  returned  in  the  autumn,  we  again 
began  to  consider  what  we  should  do.  It  was  thought 
that  no  further  good  could  be  accomplished  by  crusad- 
ing in  bands,  yet  we  did  not  wish  the  enemy  to  con- 
gratulate itself  that  we  were  discouraged  or  wearied. 
So  it  was  decided  to  visit  the  saloons  in  committees  of 
twos  and  threes.  The  ladies  were  courteously  re- 
ceived, and  their  arguments  listened  to  with  civility, 
but  apparently  little  impression  was  made. 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGHENY. 


481 


Again  we  seemed  to  pause,  and  a second  time  our 
work  was  sent  to  us.  For  some  time  our  Friday  even- 
ing meetings  had  been  disturbed  by  a number  of  boys 
of  the  lowest  class.  Whence  they  came  no  one  could 
tell.  Whether  curiosity,  or  a deliberate  design  to  dis- 
turb the  Crusaders,  brought  them,  we  could  not  con- 
jecture. The  disagreeable  fact  of  their  presence  was 
all  we  knew  about  them.  No  one  felt  like  assuming 
the  responsibility  of  dismissing  them,  and  a few  ear- 
nest hearts  resolved  to  make  a special  effort  in  their  be- 
half. One  evening  each  week  during  the  winter  and 
spring  was  devoted  to  their  instruction.  No  encour- 
aging  results  were  apparent,  but  the  pleasing  reflection 
is  ours,  that  a great  desire  to  do  them  good  actuated 
the  ladies,  who  endured  their  rudeness  with  unwaver- 
ing faith  and  courage.  The  endeavor  to  improve  the 
boys  suggested  similar  work  for  the  girls  of  the  same 
class.  A most  flourishinof  industrial  school  was  estab- 
lished,  and  sustained  throughout  two  winters.  Cottage 
prayer-meetings  formed  an  important  feature  of  our 
work.  It  was  the  desire  fo  hold  the  meetings,  if  pos- 
sible, in  homes  which  had  felt  the  horrors  of  intemper- 
ance. This  was  not  always  practicable,  but  locali- 
ties were  chosen  where  the  degraded  of  both  sexes 
congregated,  and  where  religious  instruction  was  not 
given.  Very  soon  an  interest  was  manifested  in 
the  simple  services,  and  many  have  anxiously  inquired 
the  “way  of  life.” 

We  still  have  unabated  interest  in  the  work,  and 
would  gladly  be  more  actively  engaged.  Our  Tues- 
day afternoon  meeting  has  never  been  interrupted. 


482 


CRUSADE  AT  WILLIAMSPORT. 


but  we  now  feel  ourselves  “a  feeble  folk,”  and  can  do 
little  else  than  pray.  The  most  perfect  harmony  has 
characterized  our  band,  and  the  only  change  of  officers 
we  have  made  has  been  occasioned  by  the  removal 
from  the  city  of  one  lady,  and  the  enforced  absence, 
by  serious  illness,  of  another. 

WILLIAMSPORT,  PENNSYLVAXLA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Mussina  for  the  follow- 
ing facts;  “Before  our  Crusade  commenced,  there 
were  thirty  liquor-saloons  within  a stone’s  throw  of 
the  court-house. 

“One  of  our  first  meeting's  was  held  in  a larofe  hotel. 
The  house  was  full,  and  the  street  was  full — there  was 
a multitude  all  around  us.  We  bowed  before  the 
Lord  and  offered  up  a petition  in  behalf  of  the  pro- 
prietor. 

“The  people  said:  ‘We  thought  those  women  were 
going  to  find  fault  with  us,  but  they  have  come  to  do 
us  good.’  From  that  time  we  felt  an  earnest  desire 
to  visit  all  the  liquor-dealers. 

“The  father  of  the  landlord  of  one  of  the  larofest 
hotels  sent  us  word  to  o-o  and  hold  meetinors  in  that 

o o 

house,  and  his  son  would  be  saved.  Our  street  meet- 
ing's were  owned  and  blessed  of  God  in  the  salva- 
tion  of  many.  We  have  often  been  thanked  by 
strangers,  for  holding  these  meetings. 

“We  had  a number  of  mass-meetings;  and  the 
liquor-dealers  had  07ie.  Many  of  the  temperance 
people  thought  we  ought  to  have  attended  it  in  a 
body;  but  we  only  sent  a delegation  and  the  rest  of 


CRUSADE  AT  WILLIAMSPORT.  ' 483 

US  remained  in  the  church,  and  prayed  to  a covenant- 
keeping God  to  confound  our  enemies.” 

Mrs,  Dr.  Kemble,  who  was  appointed  to  visit  Har- 
risburg to  help  save  the  Local  Option  law,  furnishes 
the  following  incident  of  her  escape  the  night  before 
she  started: 

“Wishing  to  arise  early,  I told  the  young  lady  (who 
was  staying  with  me)  that  we  would  leave  the  blinds 
up,  that  we  might  see  the  daylight  at  an  early  hour. 
About  midnight  we  heard  a crash  which  awoke  us 
both,  and  upon  looking  up,  we  discovered  that  the 
window  had  been  broken  in ; and  upon  further  search 
we  found  that  a brickbat  had  been  thrown  through 
the  window,  and  lay  between  us  on  the  bed;  but  by 
the  blessing  of  God  neither  of  us  were  hurt.  This  did 
not  deter  us  in  the  least.  We  prayed  and  worked 
with  more  determination  than  ever.” 

The" most  signal  manifestation  of  God’s  hand  in  the 
work,  is  the  swift  judgment  that  has  overtaken  almost 
every  one  who  opposed  them,  as  will  be  shown  from 
the  following  facts  sent  me  by  E.  L.  Nice,  who  writes: 

“The  first  meeting  was  called  February,  1874. 
The  ladies  organized  twenty-five  strong,  and  com- 
menced the  saloon  visiting  and  picket  work  soon  after. 
A coffee  house  also  was  opened,  in  a concert  saloon 
room,  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  liquor-selling  busi- 
ness. This  room  had  been  previously  occupied  as  a 
saloon;  but  the  keeper  had  skipped  away  without 
paying  his  rent,  and  thus  we  got  it;  but  kept  it  only  a 
short  time,  because  the  man  of  whom  we  rented  (then 
the  mayor  of  the  city)  grew  afraid  of  the  liquor  men, 


484 


CRUSADE  AT  WILLIAMSPORT. 


when  he  saw  our  coffee-house  hurt  their  ‘lunch-rooms,’ 
and  would  let  us  have  it  no  longer.  This  man  has 
since  gone  into  disgrace  as  a disho7iest  bankrupt,  even 
losing  his  friends  among  the  liquor  men,  who  suffered 
from  his  failure. 

“The  man  who  was  the  most  insulting  to  us  has 

o 

since  shot  himself  while  in  jail,  during  a fit  of  delirium 
tremens,  and  died  a miserable  death.  Two  others 
have  found  a home  in  the  insane  asylum. 

“ Many  have  been  sold  out  by  the  sheriff,  and  re- 
duced to  poverty.  One  who  did  all  he  could  slyly,  to 
discourage  and  injure  us,  now  goes  about  a cripple, 
almost  helpless  with  paralysis,  and  his  family  is  re- 
duced to  abject  poverty. 

“Our  District  Attorney,  G,  C.  Hinman,  who  boldly 
advocated  the  repeal  of  the  Local  Option  law,  and 
denounced  the  work  of  the  Crusade,  left  here  last 
year  in  disgrace;  ran  away  just  in  time  to  escape  the 
penitentiary. 

“ The  man  who  was  counsel  for  the  liquor  men  has 
been  twice  at  death’s  door,  and  in  fearful  agony  in  the 
belief  that  he  was  lost.  The  first  time,  he  turned  to 
the  Lord,  and  commenced  a new  life,  but  was  brought 
back  to  his  habit  of  sin,  by  his  physician  insisting  upon 
strengthening  him  by  alcoholic  stimulants.  So  Satan 
still  holds  him,  and  he  is  still  the  drunkard-maker’s 
friend. 

“On  the  other  hand,  those  who  aided  us  in  the 
work  have  been  generally  prospered.” 

We  are  furnished  the  followino;  facts  and  incidents 
by  Mrs.  Olmstead: 


CRUSADE  AT  WILLIAMSPORT. 


485 


March  2d,  1874,  about  two  hundred  of  us  went  to 
the  Herdic  House;  we  held  our  meeting  in  the  long 
hall,  and  were  followed  by  a large  crowd  who  pressed 
in  at  the  door  to  hear. 

The  next  day  we  visited  the  Hepburn  House.  An 
immense  crowd  was  around.  We  feared  a riot,  but 
God  was  there,  and  it  became  to  them  a solemn  place. 

The  proprietor,  who  had  threatened  many  things  if 
we  came,  wept  like  a child. 

We  next  went  to  the  Crawford  House,  and  then  to 
the  Henry  House. 

We  afterwards  divided  into  four  bands,  and  visited 
Fricker’s,  Gerlach’s,  United  States,  and  the  American. 

On  March  7th,  1874,  five  saloons  were  visited,  and 
the  proprietors  were  much  affected. 

About  a week  after,  seven  of  us  were  at  Fricker’s 
saloon,  from  half-past  two  until  half-past  six.  This 
place  seemed  to  me  like  the  very  door  of  hell. 

The  sights  and  sounds  there  have  laid  the  burden 
of  this  war  upon  me  more  heavily  than  ever. 

One  poor,  half-drunken  man  was  very  Insulting  to 
us — a plan  of  others  to  drive  us  away. 

We  were  relieved  by  others,  who  stayed  until  late  in 
the  evening. 

One  saloon-keeper  we  visited  was  as  furious  as  an 
angry  caged  lion.  We  had  a pleasant  talk  with  him 
and  his  wife,  and  left  feeling  that  God’s  will  had  been 
done. 

One  of  the  saloons,  where  a most  powerful  meeting 
was  held,  was  kept  by  a Frenchman,  an  unbeliever. 
He  was  very  polite  to  us,  and  he  soon  gave  up  his 


486 


CRUSADE  AT  WILLIAMSPORT. 


business  and  went  away,  saying  he  should  never  sell 
liquor  again. 

Some  of  the  ladies  visited  Georgre  Koch’s  saloon, 
March  7 th. 

There  Mrs.  C.  prayed  that  her  husband,  who  was 
old  and  a drunkard,  might  not  be  allowed  to  take 
another  drink  at  that  place.  It  was  a powerful  meet- 
ing, though  small,  and  that  prayer  was  one  to  be  re- 
membered; that  husband  never  di'ank  again,  anywhere, 
and  soon  became  a Christian. 

We  had  some  remarkable  instances  of  bad  men 
being  reclaimed  and  converted  at  that  time,  who  are 
now  in  the  church,  and  working  in  the  temperance 
cause. 

One  blessed  feature  of  our  Crusade  was,  that  we 
never  stopped  to  ask  or  think  to  what  denomination 
we  belonged. 

The  court-house  pavement  became  a Bethel  to  us, 
where  Christ  seems  a little  nearer  than  in  His  temple 
made  with  hands. 

At  the  commencement  of  our  Crusade,  one  good 
Presbyterian  pastor,  who  was  with  us  heart  and  hand, 
expressed  his  sorrow  that  the  women  of  his  church 
were  wholly  unprepared  for  such  public  work,  and 
said  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  sisters  would  have  it 
all  to  do.  In  about  three  weeks  from  that  time  he 
might  have  heard  ladies  of  his  own  flock  praying  on 
the  street,  and  exhorting  the  crowds  on  the  pavement 
in  front  of  the  court-house.  So  wondrously  had  God 
poured  out  His  Spirit  upon  them,  and  prepared  them 
for  His  work. 


CRUSADE  AT  BLOSSBURG. 


487 


BLOSSBURG,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  society  reports  the  following: 

When  the  thrilling  news  came  to  us,  that  Christian 
women  were  carrying  the  gospel  into  the  haunts  of 
intemperance,  and  thus  meeting  the  enemy  face  to  face, 
our  hearts  were  stirred  in  sympathy  with  the  effort. 

Those  unacquainted  with  mining  regions  may  not 
know  that  in  such  communities  intemperance  gains  a 
strong  foothold,  because  of  the  influences  brought  to 
bear  in  early  childhood  as  well  as  in  mature  life  upon 
those  who  comprise  the  majority  of  its  population.  To 
contend  with  life-long  prejudices  requires  courage. 
Having  within  the  limits  of  our  village  some  thirty 
places  where  liquor  could  be  obtained,  it  seemed  a 
grave  question  whether  Ave  should  begin  the  warfare. 
The  conviction  deepened  in  some  hearts  that  “ now”  was 
the  time  to  work;  and  in  the  month  of  June,  1874,  the 
first  meeting  Avas  called  by  Rev.  C.  G.  LoAvell,  and  a 
ladies’  prayer-meeting  appointed. 

At  the  first  of  these  meetings  a Ladies’  Temperance 
Union  Avas  organized.  General  meetine  was  held 
alternately  in  the  several  churches.  We  did  not  visit 
the  saloons,  but  all  our  dealers  Avere  invited  to  sign  the 
pledge.  In  every  instance  Ave  were  refused,  they  giv- 
ing us  frankly  their  reasons,  viz. : that  their  money  was 
in  the  business,  and  they  preferred  to  run  the  risks  of 
prosecutions  for  breaking  the  law,  rather  than  leave 
off  selling.  After  counting  the  cost  of  their  displeasure, 
and  the  Aveight  of  public  opinion,  Ave  decided  to  com- 
plain to  the  authorities  in  the  name  of  the  Common- 
wealth, of  all  Avho  Avere  guilty  of  violating  the  Local 


488 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN, 


Option  law.  This  step  brought  us  much  unpleasant 
work,  such  as  we  would  gladly  have  avoided,  those 
engaged  in  the  traffic  giving  us  the  full  benefit  of  all 
the  influence  afforded  them  in  points  of  law,  to  retard 
our  progress.  Those  who  frequented  these  places  for 
drink  were  in  danger  of  being  used  as  witnesses,  there- 
fore we  gained  their  displeasure.  We  continued  to 
complain  for  nearly  two  years  at  each  term  of  court, 
sometimes  successfully,  and  sometimes  failing  to  secure 
truthful  witnesses.  Some  complaints  were  made  after 
the  repeal  of  the  Local  Option  law.  At  the  second 
application  of  our  dealers  for  license,  we  remonstrated, 
being  opposed  in  this  by  Christian  men,  who  were 
certain  we  should  be  defeated.  The  number  of  appli- 
cants were  ten,  three  of  which  were  refused.  At  this 
point  we  did  not  see  fit  to  make  further  resistance. 
Many  of  the  dealers,  during  the  time  spent  by  us  in 
opposing  the  traffic,  abandoned  its  pursuit,  leaving  at 
present  less  than  one-third  as  many  places  for  drink 
as  we  had  three  years  ago. 

WARREN,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Annie  C.  Wetmore,  Treas- 
urer of  the  State  Union,  for  the  following  facts: 

“The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  at  this 
place  was  organized  in  December,  1874,  this  being  sev- 
eral months  before  the  State  organization  was  effected. 
The  membership,  was  large.  The  temperance  women 
were  impressed  with  the  feeling  that  the  time  had 
come  for  action,  but  as  none  were  ready  to  visit  the 
saloons,  as  the  women  of  Ohio  and  other  States  were 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN, 


489 


doing,  they  hardly  knew  what  to  do,  but  concluded  to 
do  all  in  their  power  to  build  up  a better  public  senti- 
ment, 

“They  applied  to  the  editors  of  the  two  weekly 
papers,  and  obtained  a part  of  a column  in  each  paper, 
and  appointed  editors  to  fill  this  space  with  original 
notes,  or  selections  on  temperance.  They  held  their 
Union  meetings  weekly,  and  mass-meetings  as  often  as 
possible.  Temperance  papers  were  subscribed  for  and 
placed  in  the  reading-room.  Remonstrances  were 
circulated  against  the  repeal  of  local  option,  and  Feb- 
ruary, 1 8 74,  the  first  prosecution  under  the  Local  Option 
law  was  made  by  the  women.  The  liquor  men  were 
aroused,  but  the  women  carried  the  suit  and, convicted 
one  man,  and  the  community  received  its  first  temper- 
ance lesson  ; and  as  success  always  commands  respect, 
those  who  had  ridiculed  the  Idea  of  woman’s  work  In 
this  way,  began  to  respect  them,  and  tremble  before 
the  power  that  was  In  their  hands. 

“It  was  decided  in  April  to  appoint  committees  to  go 
to  the  different  towns  in  the  county  and  organize 
unions,  and  as  a result  five  towns  were  visited,  and 
unions  formed,  and  in  May  a county  convention  was 
called,  and  a county  organization  formed,  which  has 
continued  to  this  day. 

“In  May,  1875,  after  the  repeal  of  the  Local  Option 
law,  the  women  circulated  resolutions  against  the  giv- 
ing of  license  to  such  persons  as  had  violated  the 
Local  Option  law. 

“The  Union  purchased  and  circulated  a great  number 
of  temperance  tracts  in  the  county;  and  an  effort  was 


490 


CRUSADE  AT  WARREN. 


made,  by  the  appointment  of  a committee  for  each 
Sunday-school,  to  introduce  temperance  work  among 
the  children,  which  was  attended  with  some  degree  ot 
success. 

“In  March,  1876,  a juvenile  temperance  society  was 
organized,  which  was  called  the  Centennial  Temper- 
ance Society.  Each  member  was  provided  with  a 
badge  of  red,  white,  and  blue  ribbon ; each  ribbon 
representing  a pledge.  The  meetings  have  been  kept 
up  regularly. 

“There  being  no  town  pump  where  a thirsty  man, 
free  of  expense,  could  relieve  his  thirst,  the  W.  C.  T. 
U.  had  a well  dug,  and  a pump  set  up  at  the  corner 
of  the  principal  street,  so  that  thirst  can  now  be  slaked 
‘ without  money  and  without  price.’ 

“On  New  Year’s  days,  1876  and  1877,  the  Union 
opened  a Holly  Tree  Inn,  where  they  received  visitors, 
inviting  all  to  come  and  partake  freely.  In  the  even- 
ing speeches  were  made  and  many  signed  the  pledge. 

“During  the  years  1876  and  1877  a number  of 
prosecutions  were  made  by  the  Union  with  various 
deorees  of  success. 

o 

“The  liquor  party  have  been  made  to  feel  that  law  is 
not  to  be  trampled  under  foot  with  impunity,  and  that 
the  license  law  should  be  enforced  as  other  laws. 

“September,  1876,  a committee  of  two  were  appointed 
to  visit  the  county  superintendent  of  public  schools 
during  the  annual  teachers’  institute,  and  obtain  a few 
minutes  durino:  one  of  the  sessions  to  talk  on  tern- 
perance.  The  time  was  cheerfully  granted,  and  the 
teachers  were  sfenerallv  enlisted.  We  asked  them  to 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


491 


make  the  subject  a specialty  at  least  once  a month,  and 
supplied  them  with  tracts  and  catechisms  on  alcohol. 
Most  of  them  have  been  faithful  to  their  duty  in  this 
respect.” 

An  incident  not  rep07'ted  by  Mrs.  Wetmore,  which 
occurred  during  the  prosecutions  of  dealers  in  court, 
will  show  the  animus  of  the  liquor-dealers  in  Warren. 

One  of  the  ladies  very  active  in  the  work  wore  a 
velvet  cloak.  A lady  from  a neighboring  town  being 
there  on  a visit,  went  to  the  court-house  to  attend  the 
trial.  She,  too,  had  on  a very  costly  velvet  cloak;  the 
velvet  had  cost  $25  a yard.  Both  these  ladies,  while 
in  the  court-room,  or  when  they  were  leaving,  had 
vitriol  thrown  on  their  cloaks  which  utterly  ruined  them. 
The  purpose,  of  course,  was  to  ruin  the  cloak  of  the 
active  temperance  woman,  but  when  the  agent  of  the 
liquor-dealers’  revenge  saw  two  cloaks  so  near  alike 
he  made  sure  work  by  destroying  both. 

PHILADELPHIA,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  first  meeting  in  this  city  was  called  through 
the  public  press  on  February  27th,  1874.  The  place 
of  meeting  was  the  Fiftieth  Baptist  Church,  a small 
frame  mission  chapel  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city. 
The  little  chapel  was  well  filled  with  grave,  earnest 
women,  and  every  heart  was  stirred  during  the  first 
prayer.  “What  wilt  thou  have  me  do?”  was  pressed 
upon  every  conscience.  The  object  of  the  meeting 
was  explained,  and  stirring  appeals  were  made. 

One  lady  said  on  a corner  near  this  chapel  was  a 
drinking-saloon  of  the  worst  character,  and  asked  if 


492 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA, 


anything  could  be  done.  Another  lady,  who  lived  next 
door  to  the  saloon,  said  she  would  throw  open  her 
house  at  once  for  a prayer-meeting,  that  this  place 
might  be  closed.  The  leader  then  proposed  that  those 
who  felt  willing  should  follow  her  to  the  lady’s  house, 
and  hold  a prayer-meeting.  About  half  of  the  women 
followed  her,  while  the  others  remained  in  the  church 
to  pray.  As  the  band  marched  down  the  street  they 
were  followed  by  a great  crowd.  As  the  house  would 
not  hold  half  the  people  that  gathered,  the  leader 
stood  on  the  doorstep,  and  addressed  the  multitude. 
There  was  not  the  least  disturbance,  but  all  listened 
with  breathless  attention  to  her  earnest  and  touching 
appeals. 

When  they  started  from  the  chapel,  the  cry  was 
raised  by  the  crowd  outside : “ The  Crusaders  are 
coming ! ” The  rumseller  on  the  corner  hastened  to 
close  his  windows  and  bar  his  door. 

March  ist,  1874  (Sunday),  mass-meetings  were  held 
afternoon  and  evening  in  Wood’s  Museum,  which  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  hundreds  went 
away  unable  to  gain  admittance.  The  proprietor  had 
received  several  notices  that  there  would  be  a mob, 
and  that  the  museum  would  be  burned  down  if  he 
attempted  to  hold  such  a meeting.  But  he  was  a 
staunch  temperance  man,  and  determined  that  the 
meeting  should  come  off  at  any  hazard.  There  was 
no  mob  and  no  disturbance. 

hlarch  2d,  a business  meeting  was  held,  and  a 
Woman’s  Union  Temperance  Praying  Band  organized, 
and  the  usual  officers  elected. 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


493 


Meetings  were  held  in  various  churches,  the  pledge 
circulated,  and  hundreds  came  forward  to  sign  their 
names  to  the  pledge. 

On  Monday,  March  9th,  the  liquor-dealers  becom- 
ing alarmed,  held  a secret  meeting  to  consider  what 
they  could  do  to  check  the  temperance  work.  What 
they  decided  on  was  never  known. 

On  the  9th  of  April  a general  meeting  was  called, 
and  held  in  one  of  the  rooms  in  the  Horticultural  Hall. 
There  was  a large  attendance.  The  officers  reported 
that  1 12  meetings  had  been  held;  24,870  names  en- 
rolled on  the  pledge  books,  of  whom  1,613  had  been 
drunkards,  61  barkeepers,  and  a number  saloon- 
keepers. Also,  that  38  church-members,  who  owned 
property  which  was  rented  for  saloons,  had  been 
visited,  and  pledged  not  to  rent  their  houses  for  such 
a purpose  in  the  future. 

During  the  month  of  April  ninety-four  meetings 
were  held.  Several  being  held  on  the  same  night,  it 
was  necessary  for  the  president  and  other  members 
of  the  band  to  drive  from  church  to  church,  and  speak 
several  times  each  evening.  At  these  meetings  many 
requests  for  prayer  were  sent  in  : some  of  them  were 
from  drunkards’  wives  and  brought  tears  to  many 
eyes. 

A temporary  home  was  established  for  reformed 
men  who  were  homeless  and  without  work.  It  was 
soon  filled,  and  a larger  building  was  secured,  which 
was  afterward  turned  over  to  the  ladies  in  Frankford, 
it  being  in  that  part  of  the  city,  and  another  started  at 
the  corner  of  Seventeenth  and  Francis  streets;  also  an 


494 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


Old  Woman’s  Home  in  West  Philadelphia  was  opened 
by  one  of  the  managers. 

During  the  summer,  meetings  were  held  in  a tent. 
At  one  of  these  meetings  a report  came  that  a man 
was  dying  on  a vacant  lot  adjoining.  He  was  taken 
charge  of,  nourishment  given  him,  and  he  soon  revived. 
He  said  he  was  a castaway,  his  friends  had  disowned  him, 
and  drunkenness  had  brought  him  to  destitution,  and 
almost  to  death.  He  was  induced  to  sign  the  pledge, 
was  converted,  and  afterwards  became  a worker  in  the 
cause,  and,  in  course  of  time,  he  was  restored  to  his 
friends,  clothed  and  in  his  right  mind. 

Mrs.  Eleanor  Crew,  the  Secretary  of  the  band,  who 
was  earnest  and  capable,  and  most  abundant  in  good 
works,  giving  her  life  freely  for  the  salvation  of  others, 
fell  at  her  post,  September  4th,  1875,  believed 
from  mental  strain  and  overwork,  but  the  beautiful 
example  of  a life  devoted  to  Christianity  and  temper- 
ance is  still  an  inspiration  to  many. 

In  the  meantime,  another  organization  had  been 
formed,  and  efficient  work  was  done  for  God  and  human- 
ity by  other  earnest  workers.  This  society  held  mass- 
meetings,  and  did  other  important  work.  But  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  National  Union  induced  the  two  bodies  to 
unite,  and  a meeting  was  held  for  that  purpose,  January 
26th,  1875,  in  Dr.  McCook’s  church.  The  meeting 
was  enthusiastic,  and  the  reorganization  effected. 
Many  of  the  members'  feeling  unprepared  for  the 
work,  a meeting  was  appointed  for  prayer  and  conse- 
cration. At  the  very  first  meeting  a poor  man  pre- 
sented himself  and  desired  to  sign  the  pledge.  They 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


495 


were  quite  unprepared  for  this,  had  no  pledges  ready, 
but  they  soon  learned  that  the  most  effectual  way  to 
consecrate  one’s  self  is  to  go  to  work.  The  man  and 
his  family  were  in  a wretched  condition,  and  temporary 
relief  was  necessary.  He  was  soon  afterwards  con- 
verted, and  became  a church  member.  His  former 
employer,  hearing  of  his  reformation,  sent  for  him  and 
gave  him  employment,  and  a year  afterwards  he  was 
known  to  be  faithful  and  doing  well. 

Cottage  prayer-meetings  were  held,  which  resulted 
in  great  good.  The  ladies  would  secure  the  use  of  a 
house  for  meetings,  and  throw  the  doors  and  windows 
open,  and  commence  singing,  A large  crowd  was  soon 
attracted,  who  would  stand  for  an  hour  to  listen  to  the 
gospel  as  it  was  proclaimed  from  the  doorstep  by  one 
or  more  of  the  ladies.  On  such  occasions  an  invita- 
tion was  always  extended  to  all  who  wished,  to  come 
inside  to  a prayer-meeting,  which  was  accepted  by 
many.  The  doors  and  windows  were  then  closed,  and 
the  crowd,  with  tracts  in  their  hands,  which  had  been 
freely  distributed,  slowly  dispersed,  but  usually  the 
room  was  filled  with  those  who  remained  for  prayer, 
and  many  were  saved. 

Public  meetings  were  held,  some  saloons  visited, 
much  temperance  literature  distributed,  and  a home 
opened  for  inebriate  women,  especially  for  those  who 
felt  themselves  to  be  slaves  of  the  drink  habit,  but 
because  of  their  social  position  and  the  stigma  attend- 
ing, would  not  enter  public  reformatory  institutions. 
Many  have  found  shelter  there,  and  some  have  given 
evidence  that  these  labors  have  not  been  in  vain. 


496 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


This  has  since  been  detached  from  the  work,  and  Is 
under  separate  management. 

Two  of  the  members  fitted  up  in  good  style  a com- 
fortable lodging-house,  where  men,  reformed  through 
the  efforts  of  the  society,  and  others,  at  a low  price, 
could  have  a tidy,  cheerful  home.  This  house  accom- 
modates about  fifty,  and  has  a reading-room,  and  is 
cheerful,  well-lighted,  and  warm,  the  price  ranging  from 
twenty  to  thirty  cents  per  night,  or  one  dollar,  or  one 
dollar  and  a half  per  week.  Not  a profane  or  obscene 
word  is  allowed,  and  those  who  have  never  made  a 
profession  of  Christianity  feel  the  influence  that  is 
quietly  and  steadily  exerted.  This  work  is  also  under 
outside  management,  but  contributes  to  the  success  of 
the  society. 

March,  1877,  daily  meetings  were  established,  which 
have  been  largely  attended.  These  meetings,  though 
led  by  ladies,  are  open  to  all,  and  are  attended  by  men 
of  all  classes,  often  more  than  three-fourths  of  the 
audience  being  men. 

Quietly  and  reverently  they  wait  before  God,  and 
the  influence  of  the  Spirit  is  so  manifestly  present  that 
all  hearts  are  solemnized. 

The  hall  is  well  filled  daily,  and  over  six  hundred 
have  been  brought  to  a saving  knowledge  of  Christ  In 
the  forcfiveness  of  their  sins.  Some  of  these  were. 

o 

gentlemen  who  came  out  of  curiosity ; others  were 
prodigal  sons,  far  away  from  home  and  God.  Gamblers, 
bar-keepers.  Infidels,  drunkards,  criminals  fresh  from 
the  jail,  and  homeless  tramps,  have  here  found  salva- 
tion. Some  even  of  the  most  degraded,  are  educated 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA, 


497 


men,  who  have  had  the  advantages  of  a college  course  ‘ 
others  are  business  or  professional  men,  who  have 
come  down  from  the  highest  circles  of  society  to 
poverty  and  rags,  through  drink. 

It  is  touching-  to  see  these  men,  scarred  and  marred 
by  sin,  sitting  with  reverent  faces,  listening,  for  the  first 
time  in  years,  to  the  sweet  story  of  Jesus  and  his  love, 
or  rising  to  ask  prayers  for  themselves,  with  streaming 
eyes.  Oh,  the  sad  stories  the  searching  spirit  wrings 
out  of  these  penitent  hearts ! “ For  with  the  heart 

man  believeth  unto  righteousness,  and  with  the  mouth 
confession  is  made  unto  salvation.” 

Some  of  these  men  were  in  utter  despair,  and  were 
arrested  when  about  to  commit  suicide ; others  had 
not  prayed  since  they  left  their  mother’s  knee,  and  had 
not  been  In  a church  for  ten,  fifteen,  or  twenty  years. 

But  Jesus  is  mighty  to  save,  and  all  his  salvation 
may  know,  and  he  has  revealed  himself  as  the  Saviour 
of  sinners ; and  such  mighty  saving  power  I have  never 
seen  before.  Gamblers  have  thrown  away  their  cards, 
and  pressing  the  Bible  to  their  hearts,  have  said,  with 
tears,  “ I take  this  book,  instead  of  my  pack  of  cards, 
for  a companion  and  guide.” 

Families,  broken  up  and  scattered,  have  been  re- 
united, and  gathered  about  an  altar  of  prayer ; the 
ragged  have  been  clothed,  the  hungry  fed,  the  unbe- 
lieving convinced,  and  the  broken-hearted  comforted. 
Letters  bearing  the  glad  tidings  across  seas  and  conti- 
nents, of  prodigals  saved,  have  winged  their  way  to 
distant  friends,  and  hundreds  of  homes  have  been 
made  glad  because  of  these  afternoon  meetings. 

32 


498 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


One  young  man  who  arose  to  ask  prayers,  said,  “ I 
am  the  son  of  praying  parents.  I had  every  advantage 
that  wealth  and  social  position  could  give  me.  I was 
educated  at  Yale  College,  but  was  expelled  before  I 
graduated.  I shall  never  forget  the  humiliation  of 
that  morning  when  I was  dismissed  and  sent  home  on 
account  of  drunkenness.  I tried  for  a time  to  do 
better,  and  was  sent  away  to  medical  college,  where  in 
due  time  I graduated  in  medicine — and  drunkenness. 
While  attending  college,  I would  write  home  for  money 
to  buy  books,  and  then  spend  it  for  rum.  After  I got 
my  diploma  I went  home,  but  it  was  not  long  till  I 
was  brought,  at  a late  hour  of  the  night,  from  the 
saloon  to  my  father’s  door,  helplessly  drunk.  When 
my  condition  became  known  to  the  members  of  the 
family,  there  was  sorrow  and  weeping  all  over  the 
house.  The  next  day  my  father  talked  very  seriously 
to  me  as  to  the  consequences  of  the  drink  habit,  if  I 
continued  in  such  a course.  I promised  to  amend,  but 
in  a short  time  was  brought  home  again  dead-drunk. 

“ My  father  turned  me  out  of  doors,  for  I had  broken 
my  mother’s  heart.  But  one  of  my  brothers  cams 
after  me  very  soon,  to  say: 

“ ‘ Come  home,  Harry,  you  have  broken  our  mother’s 
heart ; come  home  and  see  her  die.’ 

“ I followed  him,  going  like  a criminal.  My  dying 
mother  was  surrounded  by  her  family  and  friends,  but 
she  reached  out  her  hands  to  me  and  said,  ‘ Oh,  Harry, 
you  have  broken  my  heart,  but  if  you  will  promise  me 
that  you  will  never  drink  another  drop  as  long  as  you 
live,  I will  die  happy.’ 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


499 


“ I dropped  on  my  knees  at  her  bedside,  and  prom- 
ised her  that  I would  never  touch  the  accursed  stuff 
auain.  I thoueht  then  that  I never  would,  and  as  I 
followed  her  to  the  grave  and  heard  the  earth  fall 
upon  her  coffin,  I swore  in  my  heart  that  I would  keep 
my  vow.  I went  to  a distant  western  town  and  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  medicine.  I was  prospered 
in  every  way.  I soon  had  a large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice and  moved  in  the  best  of  society.  I bought  a 
house  and  was  fitting  up  a home  for  a lovely  woman 
who  had  promised  to  become  my  wife.  During  a 
New  Year’s  holiday- time  I visited  my  old  home,  and 
on  New  Year’s  day  started  out  to  call  upon  my  friends. 
The  third  house  I entered  the  lady  offered  me  wine. 
I refused,  but  she  insisted,  and  once  the  glass  in  my 
hand  I drank  it  off  and  rushed  from  the  house  to  the 
nearest  saloon.  That  night  I was  carried  to  a hotel 
dead-drunk.  My  descent  was  rapid.  I soon  lost  all 
my  money  and  friends,  and  was  wandering  over  the 
country  a miserable,  drunken  tramp.  I begged  a 
ticket  to  cross  the  Delaware  river  to  reach  this  city, 
and  have  begged  my  bread  here  from  door  to  door.  I 
have  been  called  a tramp  to  my  face  since  I have  been 
in  your  city.  But  if  God  can  save  a tramp,  I want 
Him  to  SAVE  me.”  When  he  sat  down  there  w^as  not 
a dry  eye  in  the  house. 

Immediately  another  young  man  arose,  and  said,  “ I 
was  a class-mate  of  that  young  man’s  in  Yale.  I well 
remember  the  day  he  was  expelled.  I had  not  met 
him  in  all  these  years  till  at  these  meetings.  I,  too, 
since  leaving  college,  have  become  a drunkard ; but  1 


500 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


have  been  saved  by  God’s  mighty  power  in  these  meet- 
ings, and  the  appetite  for  rum  has  been  taken  away,  and 
what  God  has  done  for  me.  He  can  do  for  you,  Harr}'.” 

There  was  united  prayer  for  that  young  man,  and 
he  was  saved  that  very  day.  Or,  as  he  puts  it,  “The 
ladies  held  on  to  me  till  I found  Christ,  and  had  the 
appetite  for  rum  and  tobacco  taken  away.”» 

There  are  scores  of  cases  equally  interesting. 

A MARVELLOUS  ANSWER  TO  PR.\\T;R. 

One  day  two  young  men  came  into  the  meeting, 
and  took  seats  near  the  door.  They  were  very 
irreverent,  and  inclined  to  be  disorderly.  The  lesson 
that  day  was  on  the  forgiveness  of  sin  and  the  witness 
of  the  Spirit ; and  those  testifying  spoke  with  great 
clearness  of  the  cleansing  power  of  the  blood,  and  the 
witness  of  the  Spirit  to  their  acceptance.  The  meeting 
was  very  solemn,  man}^  were  moved  to  tears ; all  sat 
in  awe  before  the  Lord,  but  these  two  young  men.  I 
led  the  meeting  that  day,  and,  as  I was  about  to  close, 
I spoke  of  the  two  young  men  who  had  been  indifferent 
and  irreverent,  as  eternity-bound,  walking,  may  be,  on 
the  brink  of  destruction,  and  yet  unsaved  and  uncon- 
cerned. W e knelt  to  pray,  and  while  I prayed,  those 
two  young  men  came  up  before  me,  and  with  earnest 
pleadings  I asked  God  to  save  their  souls — in  some 
way  or  other  to  reach  them — if  He  could  not  win  them 
by  His  love,  to  reach  and  save  them  by  His  judg- 
ments— any  way,  only  save  their  souls  alive.  The 
next  day  I was  sent  for  by  a young  man  in  the  inquiry 
room,  after  the  meeting.  The  tears  were  running 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


501 


over  his  face.  Grasping  my  hand,  he  said,  “ Oh,  do 
pray  for  me  that  no  judgments  may  come  upon  me.  I 
am  one  of  the  young  men  who  behaved  badly  in  the 
meeting  yesterday.”  “Where  is  the  other  man?” 
“When  you  prayed  I felt  awful  bad ; it  was  just  like  a 
knife  going  to  my  heart.  As  soon  as  the  meeting 
closed  we  left.  My  friend  said,  ‘ Let’s  get  out  of  here.’ 
When  we  reached  the  street  I told  him  I was  afraid 
some  judgment  would  come  upon  us.  He  laughed, 
and  said  he  wasn’t  afraid  of  the  judgments  of  God. 
We  walked  on  together  up  to  Broad  street,  where  he 
fell  with  a stroke  of  paralysis,  and  was  carried  off  to 
St.  Mary’s  hospital.  We  are  both  Catholics.  I did 
not  think  God  was  with  you.  But  when  I saw  that 
man  fall  so  soon  after  your  prayer,  I knew  it  was  a 
judgment.  I did  not  sleep  any  last  night,  and  to-day 
as  I walked  the  streets  I could  not  help  crying.  A 
lady  met  me  on  the  street,  and  seeing  me  weeping, 
she  said,  ‘Young  man,  you  seem  to  be  in  great  trou- 
ble ; what  is  the  matter  ? ’ I undertook  to  tell  her, 
but  I broke  down  utterly.  She  invited  me  to  her 
house ; there  I met  her  husband,  and  when  I told  my 
story  he  seemed  much  moved.  He  told  me  he  was  a 
saloon-keeper ; that  he  kept  a saloon  in  Camden,  N. 
J.,  but  he  was  going  to  give  up  the  business  and  open 
a feed  store,  and  that  he  would  give  me  work  and 
allow  me  to  go  to  these  meetings.” 

I bowed  with  the  young  man,  and  prayed  earnestly 
that  God  would  be  merciful  and  save  him.  The  next 
day  he  was  gloriously  saved.  He  immediately  went 
to  the  hospital,  to  look  after  his  friend.  He  found  that 


502 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


he  had  recovered  consciousness  soon  after  reaching 
the  hospital.  The  lessons  of  the  day  pressed  upon 
his  heart  and  conscience;  especially  those  awful  words, 
“I’m  not  afraid  of  the  judgment  of  God.”  He  felt 
sure  he  would  die,  and  he  set  himself  to  gain  what  he 
had  heard  spoken  of  in  the  meeting — a knowledge  of 
sins  forgiven,  the  witness  of  the  Spirit.  And  the  Lord 
revealed  Himself  to  that  man  ri^ht  there  in  the 

o 

Catholic  hospital,  so  that  when  the  friend  came  to  him 
he  found  him  rejoicing  in  a knowledge  of  his  sins  for- 
given and  his  acceptance  with  God.  They  took  sweet 
counsel  together,  and  the  dying  man  sent  this  message 
back  to  the  meeting : 

“Tell  that  lady  who  prayed  for  me  that  her  prayers 
are  answered,  and  I am  saved.  She  will  find  me  in 
heaven  when  she  comes,  for  I am  saved  by  the  jtidg- 
mcnt  of  God."  A few  hours  after  this  he  died.  Only 
a few  weeks  passed  till  the  other  young  man  was  sent 
to  the  Blockley  Alms  House  Hospital,  with  dropsy. 
But  he  was  joyously  happy — ready  for  anything. 

Ten  doctors  one  day  gathered  about  his  bed  for  con- 
sultation: the  decision  was  that  they  could  do  nothing 
for  him.  With  a triumphant  smile  he  looked  up  at 
tliem  and  said: 

“It’s  all  right,  doctors;  I am  ready  to  die.” 

The  doctor  who  attended  his  case  afterwards  came 
and  knelt  by  his  cot,  and  wept  and  prayed. 

A young  man  lying  in  the  next  cot  to  his  was  very 
irreverent.  Charles  wanted  to  read  the  Bible  to  him, 
for  he  preaches  the  gospel  to  all,  but  he  said:  “No,  I 
don’t  want  to  hear  it;  I’ve  got  a novel — I like  tliat 


CRUSADE  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


503 


better,”  But  after  a while  Charles  induced  him  to 
read,  as  an  act  of  kindness.  The  truth  took  hold  of 
his  heart,  and  one  night  he  got  up  out  of  his  bed  and 
knelt  beside  the  cot  of  Charles,  and  was  saved.  The 
novel-reading  young  man  has  since  died  in  the  full 
triumphs  of  faith.  Charles  D.  still  lingers  to  preach 
Christ  in  the  ward,  and  his  influence  is  blessed.  A 
priest  visited  him  one  day. 

“Have  you  confessed?”  he  inquired.  “Yes.”  “Who 
to?”  “The  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  and  I have  been  for- 
given, and  I am  ready  to  depart  and  be  with  my  Lord.” 

The  priest  insisted  on  leaving  a rosary,  which  the 
sick  young  man,  having  no  need  of  such  helps  in 
prayer,  gave  to  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  meeting  who 
visited  him  very  often. 

Who  can  doubt  that  God  in  answer  to  p7'ayer  took  the 
best,  and  perhaps  the  only  wa}^,  to  save  these  two  souls ! 

It  is  better  that  a man  should  be  dealt  with  in  judg- 
ment than  that  he  should  lose  his  soul. 

The  meetings  still  go  on  with  power,  and  the  gen- 
eral work  with  increasinsr  interest. 

In  1875  a State  Union  was  formed,  the  convention 
meeting  in  Philadelphia.  One  hundred  ladies  went 
from  that  meeting  to  Harrisburg,  to  protest  against 
the  repeal  of  the  Local  Option  law,  which  was  threat- 
ened. A mass-meeting  was  held  in  the  State  House 
in  the  evening,  the  legislative  hall  being  well  filled,  and 
most  of  the  members  of  the  Senate  and  House  being- 
present.  The  meeting,  which  was  addressed  by  prom- 
inent ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  State,  was  enthusi- 
astic. The  next  day  about  two  hundred  marched  in  a 
body  to  the  Capitol,  and  held  a meeting,  and  had  an 


504 


CRUSADE  AT  MONTROSE. 


interview  with  the  committee  having  the  matter  in 
charge,  and  then  called  upon  the  Governor  to  urge 
him,  if  the  law  was  repealed,  to  veto  it. 

It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  writer  of  these  pages  to  head 
that  procession  and  make  the  speech  to  the  Governor. 

If  the  question  pending  had  not  been  so  grave,  the 
scene  would  have  been  ludicrous.  Governor  Hart- 
ranft,  although  he  had  won  honor  as  an  officer  in  the 
recent  civil  war,  was  as  pale  as  a ghost,  and  stood  bracing 
himself  against  the  mantel-piece,  with  his  lips  firmly 
set,  as  though  he  was  afraid  to  open  his  mouth  lest  he 
should  betray  his  party. 

The  appeal  was  made  in  the  presence  of  a hundred 
or  more  people,  and  despite  his  efforts  at  self-com- 
mand he  was  deeply  moved. 

He  responded  very  respectfully,  but  his  guarded 
words  foreshadowed  his  future  action,  and  we  knew 
he  would  follow  the  dictates  of  his  party,  whatever  that 
might  be.  But  it  was  a privilege  to  be  able,  fearlessly 
and  plainly,  to  tell  him  a few  facts,  and  let  him  know  in 
just  so  many  words,  “ that  no  matter  what  party  went 
up,  or  went  down,  the  women  of  the  commonwealth 
intended  that  the  rum  power  should  go  down,  and 
would  bend  all  their  energies  to  that  end.” 

MONTROSE,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

A praying  band  was  organized  in  this  town  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Crusade.  Petitions  and  pledges  have 
been  circulated,  and  prayer  and  mass-meetings  held. 

The  saloon-keepers  have  been  visited  and  urged  to 
sign  the  pledge.  The  children  have  been  gathered 
together  and  taught,  and  a society  organized.  The 
jails  have  been  regularly  visited. 


CRUSADE  AT  SUSQUEHANNA  AND  TROY.  505 

Mrs.  Post  and  Mrs.  Sayer  are  among  the  active 
workers  who  have  pushed  the  cause  in  this  town  and 
in  the  county. 

SUSQUEHANNA,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  ladies  of  this  town  organized  early  in  1874; 
mass-meetings  were  held,  saloons  visited,  and  pledges 
circulated. 

Under  the  Local  Option  law,  which  had  carried  in 
this  place,  it  was  unlawful  to  sell  liquors.  And  as  the 
saloon-keepers  did  not  yield  to  tears  and  prayers,  the 
ladies  brought  the  law  to  bear  upon  them  with  good 
success. 

The  devotion  of  the  women  was  shown  in  their  self- 
denial  in  matters  of  dress,  that  they  might  have  money 
to  carry  on  the  temperance  work. 

TROY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  women  of  Troy  organized  for  work  in  May, 
1874.  I had  the  privilege  of  visiting  the  drinking- 
houses  with  some  of  these  earnest  workers.  We  went 
to  the  hotel.  The  bar-room  was  filled  with  a crowd 
of  rough  men.  The  fumes  of  tobacco  and  whiskey 
were  stifling.  The  landlord  turned  pale  when  he  saw 
us,  but  withstood  all  our  entreaties,  although  he  had 
been  trained  in  a Christian  home  and  had  a praying 
mother. 

We  appealed  to  him  to  stop  the  business  for  the 
sake  of  his  own  boy.  He  had  a beautiful  little  boy. 
Though  deeply  moved,  he  would  not  allow  us  to  pray 
in  his  house.  As  we  were  leaving,  I said  : “ My  brother, 
the  Lord  will  answer  the  prayers  of  your  mother.  He 
is  now  trying  to  win  you  by  love ; if  you  reject  Him, 


5o6 


CRUSADE  AT  ASHLEY. 


He  may  bring  you  to  the  truth  by  His  judgments.  He 
may  take  the  boy  you  love  so  much.  Don’t  wait  for 
the  judgments  of  God.”  The  words  seemed  to  be 
prophetic  : in  a month  from  that  time  the  boy  was  dead, 
and  he  was  brought  to  see  so  clearly  that  God  was 
dealing  with  him  that  he  closed  out  the  bar.  One  of 
the  drug  stores  W'as  really  an  open  saloon,  the  worst 
in  the  town.  The  work  went  on  for  a while  with 
enthusiasm.  But  some  of  these  methods,  especially 
the  prosecution  of  saloon-keepers,  displeased  the  minis- 
ters, and  they  drew  up  a paper  asking  them  to  desist, 
and  confine  themselves  to  prayer-meetings,  etc.  The 
result  was  an  entire  abandonment  of  the  work,  at  a 
time  when  it  promised  the  largest  success. 

ASHLEY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  women  organized  in  this  town  in  the  spring 
of  1874.  Prayer  and  mass-meetings  were  held;  a 
Juvenile  Union  formed;  the  saloons  visited  again  and 
again,  and  a friendly  inn  and  lunch-room  founded, 
mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Miss  N.  M.  Wells. 
Good  results  have  followed. 

The  work  there  and  throughout  the  State  is  increas- 
ing in  interest  and  enthusiasm. 

o 

Nearly  all  the  towns  of  Pennsylvania  have  carried 
on  the  temperance  work  with  more  or  less  success. 

A good  work  has  also  been  done  in  Great  Bend, 
the  home  of  Mrs.  F.  D.  B.  Chase,  President  of  the 
State  Union  ; also  in  Sharon,  Chester,  New  IMilford, 
Towanda,  Canton,  Tunkahannock,  Carbondale,  Kings- 
ton, Wellsburg,  Norristown,  Rochester,  hleadville.  New 
Castle,  Honesdale,  and  Milton. 


NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  work  in  New  York,  which  began  in  the  beauti- 
ful village  of  Fredonia,  has  extended  to  every  part  of 
that  great  State.  Every  city,  and  almost  every  ham- 
let, has  been  reached  by  this  Temperance  Gospel. 

Women’s  Temperance  Unions  have  been  organized 
in  almost  every  town,  and  the  best  and  truest  women 
of  the  State  have  banded  together  in  God’s  name,  to 
overthrow  the  liquor  traffic. 

It  will  be  noticed,  by  reference  to  the  date,  that  the 
work  at  Fredonia  commenced  several  days  before  it 
be^an  at  Hillsboro’, 

0 

1 do  not  know  why  that  town  was  not  made  con- 
spicuous as  the  place  where  the  Crusade  commenced, 
unless  it  was  because  no  saloons  were  closed,  and  the 
ladies  fell  back,  after  a short  campaign,  upon  other 
plans. 

FREDONIA,  NEW  YORK. 

Mrs.  L.  B.  Greene  gives  the  following  interesting 
account  of  the  work ; 

Dr.  Dio  Lewis  lectured  in  our  village,  Saturday 
evening,  December  13th,  1873,  in  the  regular  lyceum 

(507) 


5o8 


CRUSADE  AT  FREDONIA. 


course,  and  remaining  in  the  place  over  the  Sabbath, 
was  invited  to  speak  in  the  Baptist  Church,  Sunday 
eveninof.  A union  service  was  held,  and  the  largfe 
building  packed  to  overflowing.  He  chose  as  his  sub- 
ject— “The  duty  and  responsibility  of  Christian  women 
in  the  cause  of  Temperance.”  In  illustrating  his  views 
upon  the  subject,  he  related  the  proceedings  of  the 
women  in  the  village  of  Clarksville,  in  this  State,  forty 
years  ago,  when  he  was  a boy — how,  aroused  by  some 
specially  grievous  result  of  the  liquor  traffic,  eighty-four 
women  banded  themselves  together,  and,  after  confer- 
ence and  prayer,  marched  to  the  saloons,  where,  with 
more  prayers  and  singing,  they  appealed  to  the  liquor- 
dealers  to  pledge  themselves  to  give  up  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  beverages.  The  object  sought  was  at- 
tained, and  for  thirty-nine  years  no  liquor  has  been 
sold  there  as  a beverage. 

This  plan,  he  stated,  had  been  partially  or  wholly 
successful  in  other  places, 

A remarkable  interest  was  manifested  throucrhout 

o 

the  audience,  and  at  the  close  of  the  lecture  an  organ- 
ization, to  consider  a similar  work  in  our  place,  was 
effected  by  the  election  of  Dr.  Lewis,  Chairman;  John 
Hamilton  and  L.  A.  Barmore,  Secretaries.  The  Sec- 
retaries, together  with  Dr.  E.  M.  Pettit  and  Prof.  H.  R. 
Sanford,  were  appointed  by  the  meeting  to  name  fifty 
or  more  ladies  as  a visiting-  committee  for  work  similar 
to  that  performed  by  the  women  of  Clarksville. 

This  committee  was  enlarged  to  more  than  two  hun- 
dred, who  met  on  the  following  morning,  December 
15th,  1873,  and  entered  upon  their  work  of  visiting  all 


CRUSADE  AT  FREDONIA. 


509 


the  hotels,  drug  stores,  and  saloons.  As  the  result  of  the 
first  day’s  work  one  druggist  gave  his  assent  to  the 
pledge.  The  other  dealers  listened  respectfully,  and  we 
were  encouraged  to  think  would  yield  to  our  petitions. 

Each  succeeding  day  brought  intelligence  of  a like 
movement — first  in  Jamestown,  near  us;  then  in  Hills- 
boro’, Ohio,  followed  by  place  after  place.  So  we 
were  encouraged  and  strengthened  to  believe  that  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  moving  in  the  land,  stirring  up 
women  who  had  hitherto  rested  quietly,  or  unquietly, 
in  their  homes,  submitting  to  what  seemed  an  inerad- 
icable evil,  to  roitse  themselves  and  take  up  the 
cross  of  the  “ Temperance  Crusade.” 

I need  not  detail  the  events  of  the  first  weeks  of  our 
effort,  with  their  alternations  of  hope  and  doubtings ; 
suffice  it  to  say,  the  saloons  were  not  closed  when, 
and  as  we  prayed  they  might  be.  There  was  another 
lesson  in  store  for  us,  as  to  our  Heavenly  Father’s 
ways  of  answering  prayer. 

We  ceased  our  saloon  visiting,  but  had  formed  a 
permanent  “Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union” 
for  continued  work  in  the  cause,  as  circumstances  and 
opportunities  should  permit. 

Our  principal  efforts  have  been  as  follows : An  aid 
society  was  formed  to  help  the  needy  of  our  village, 
nearly  all  of  whom  are  the  victims  of  intemperance. 

A reading-room  in  the  interests  of  temperance  and 
morality  was  established;  a large  amount  of  tem- 
perance tracts  and  papers  were  circulated. 

Many  petitions  to  Congress  and  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, in  the  interests  of  the  cause,  have  been  circulated. 


CRUSADE  AT  FREDONIA. 


510 

Young  people  and  children’s  unions,  auxiliary  to  our 
own,  have  been  formed.  Days  of  fasting  and  prayer 
have  been  observed. 

In  the  spring  election  of  1874  there  was  a gain  for 
temperance  (a  stirring  little  appeal  to  the  voters  had 
been  scattered  through  the  streets). 

Before  the  election  of  1875  a committee  of  ladles 
was  appointed  to  see  each  voter,  urging  principle  in 
the  matter,  and  we  were  rewarded  by  a large  no 
license  majority.  During  the  years  1875-76  there 
were  no  licensed  places  in  the  town  for  the  sale  of 
liquor  as  a beverage,  but  several  club  rooms,  in  eva- 
sion of  the  law,  were  formed,  where  almost  any  one 
could  obtain  drink.  These  we  entered  legal  prosecu- 
tion against  to  no  purpose. 

During  all  these  years  our  Union  has  held  Its  weekly 
prayer-meetings,  and  has  tried  to  keep  the  public  alive 
to  the  subject,  by  bringing  before  them  frequently  the 
best  talent  in  the  lecture  field. 

Thou  ctIi  there  have  been  occasional  Instances  of 

o 

conversion  and  reformation  all  along,  it  has  seemed  as 
thougrh  results  had  not  been  commensurate  with  our 
efforts.  In  our  last  excise  election,  1877,  the  village 
again  voted  for  license,  and  when  many  of  us  were 
feeling  almost  discouraged,  groping  in  the  dark,  God 
made  his  face  to  shine  In  the  darkness,  and  we  felt 
that  the  prayers  of  so  many  years  were  answered. 

Following  the  series  of  meetings,  after  the  week  of 
prayer  In  the  Baptist  Church,  came  a gospel  temper- 
ance worker,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bocock.  He  found  the 
field  ripe  for  the  harvest.  Hundreds  signed  the  absti- 
nence pledge. 


CRUSADE  AT  AUBURN, 


51I 

Meetings  continued  for  weeks,  in  our  largest  public 
hall,  under  other  workers,  until  over  1,500  names  were 
enrolled  on  the  Murphy  pledge.  Among  these  were 
not  only  intemperate  men,  but  many  of  our  leading 
citizens,  who  before  had  opposed  or  stood  aloof  from 
all  work  for  the  cause.  We  hope  to  see  these  faith- 
fully heading  the  ranks  in  the  temperance  reform. 
Our  Union  still  lives,  and,  we  trust,  may  continue  an 
influence  for  good  in  our  midst. 

AUBURN,  NEW  YORK. 

A little  company  of  sisters,  after  consulting  their 
pastors,  called  a prayer-meeting,  Monday,  March  9th. 
On  account  of  a severe  storm  only  six  persons  were 
present  at  the  appointed  hour,  yet  out  of  that  small 
prayer-meeting  grew  the  “Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  of  Auburn.”  At  its  organization  we 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  for  our  President,  Mrs. 
Mary  T.  Burt,  then  a resident  of  Auburn — now  the 
publisher  of  Our  Union,  in  Brooklyn. 

March  13th,  we  gave  a call  for  a meeting,  asking 
“all  women,  friendly  to  the  cause  of  temperance,  to 
be  present  on  that  occasion,  with  a view  of  devising 
some  method  of  securing,  through  our  city  authorities, 
the  rigid  enforcement  of  existing  laws,  restricting  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  this  city,”  To  the 
above  appeal  were  appended  500  names  of  the 
women  of  Auburn.  This  meeting  was  followed  by 
other  crowded  mass-meetings. 

Committees  waited  upon  the  mayor  and  board  of 
excise,  beg'ginof  them  to  grant  fewer  licenses. 

* 00  o o 


512 


CRUSADE  AT  PLATTSBURG. 


In  June  of  the  same  year,  one  of  the  board  of  ex- 
cise said  that  the  Woman’s  Temperance  Union  of 
Auburn  had  been  the  means  of  closing,  during  the 
year,  from  forty  to  fifty  saloons.  Also,  if  the  organ- 
ization had  not  made  their  petition  to  the  board,  they 
would,  undoubtedly,  have  gone  on  and  licensed  all 
applicants,  as  former  excise  boards  had  done. 

Soon  after  our  annual  meeting,  March  i8th,  1875, 
our  Union  decided  to  furnish  hot  coffee  to  firemen  on 
duty.  A committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  Department  in  reference 
to  the  work.  A courteous  reply  was  received  from 
that  officer,  in  which  he  stated  it  to  be  his  opinion  “that 
the  proposed  effort  would  not  only  advance  the  cause 
of  temperance,  but  elevate  the  standing  of  the  fire 
department.”  The  firemen  have  proved  true  friends 
of  our  organization;  and  though  there  have  been 
many  obstacles  to  overcome,  we  have  great  reason 
to  feel  that  much  good  has  been  done  in  this  direction. 
Besides  our  regular  Monday  afternoon  prayer-meet- 
ings, and  gospel  temperance  meetings,  we  have  meet- 
ings for  the  children,  and  a Band  of  Hope  connected 
with  the  Union  numbers  230. 

Mrs.  Cyrenus  Wheeler,  Pres’t. 
Charlotte  T.  L.  Smith,  Rec.  Sec’y. 

PLATTSBURG,  NEW  YORK. 

Fanny  D.  Hall  reports: 

The  Plattsburg  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  was  established  March  14th,  1874.  The  attend- 
ance was  large  at  first.  At  present  our  numbers  are 


CRUSADE  AT  PLATTSBURG. 


513 

small,  but  the  few  have  been  constant  workers.  The 
influence  emanating  from  the  Union  has  had,  and  is 
having  a decided  effect  upon  public  opinion,  changing 
the  aspects  of  the  temperance  cause. 

We  feel  that  time  only  is  needed  for  the  community 
to  show  the  power  of  prayerful,  earnest  Christian 
work,  A union  prayer-meeting,  under  the  auspices 
of  this  society,  was  formed,  in  which  the  churches 
joined. 

Sabbath  and  Wednesday  afternoon  prayer-meetings 
have  been  regularly  maintained  by  the  ladies.  In  the 
autumn  of  1875  ^ converted  saloon-keeper  offered 
his  bar-room  one  evening  in  the  week,  for  a prayer- 
meeting, under  the  care  of  the  Union,  which  has  been 
continued  to  the  present  time. 

Our  juvenile  association,  “The  Plattsburg  Temper- 
ance Guards,”  was  organized  in  October,  1874.  It 
has  enrolled  some  800  boys  as  members.  A meeting 
of  the  guards  is  held  every  three  months  in  the  court- 
house, in  which  the  exercises  are  varied  by  music,  and 
speeches,  followed  by  refreshments. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  ladles  to  attend  all 
the  meetings  of  the  excise  board.  To  this,  we  at- 
tribute influences  most  favorable  to  the  work.  The 
saloons  have  been  quietly  visited  by  members  of  the 
Union,  for  individual  appeals. 

Before  the  election  of  excise  commissioners,  the 
ladies,  with  the  aid  of  the  ladies  of  the  Good  Tem- 
plars, canvassed  the  entire  town,  giving  opportunity 
for  earnest  Christian  temperance  work. 

A legal  committee  of  the  Union  has  also  been  able 


33 


5H 


CRUSADE  AT  ALBANY. 


to  bring  cases  of  violation  of  law  before  our  juries, 
and  although  much  that  we  could  wish  has  not  been 
accomplished,  still  good  has  been  done  in  this  field. 
Our  stronghold  of  hope  is  p7'ayer,  but  we  feel  and 
know  the  Lord  has  been  with  us  in  all  these  depart- 
ments of  temperance  work. 

We  have  sustained,  since  1874,  a temperance 
column  in  the  PlattsbiU'-g  Republicaii,  which  has  been 
freely  accorded  to  us. 

ALBANY,  NEW  YORK. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Nye  for  the  following  facts: 

Our  first  temperance  prayer-meeting  was  held 
weekly,  in  1873,  in  a private  parlor,  three  present. 
We  soon  adjourned  to  a church  prayer-room,  but  our 
numbers  were  small.  In  August,  1873,  a society  was 
organized,  known  as  the  “Woman’s  Temperance 
Union  of  Albany.”  Our  prayer-meetings  were  held 
twice  every  week. 

In  January,  1874,  we  were  invited  to  hold  meetings 
in  the  City  Mission  rooms.  No.  40  State  street,  at 
which  time  two  of  our  number  became  responsible  for 
a daily  meeting.  The  faithful  few  were  greatly  encour- 
aged by  the  goodly  number  that  gathered  daily,  and 
from  amono-  those  we  most  desired  to  reach.  During 
three  months,  about  two  hundred  names  were  enrolled 
on  our  pledge.  Among  these  were  a large  number 
of  conversions.  Including  some  from  the  very"  lowest 
depths  of  Intemperance,  who  to-day  are  first  and  fore- 
most In  the  cause  of  temperance. 

Five  or  six  ladies  prayed  earnestly  that  the  work 


CllUSADE  AT  ALBANY. 


515 


mip-ht  be  enlarsfecl,  and  we  be  fitted  for  the  work.  A 
door  of  entrance  came,  and  a place  formerly  occupied 
as  a machine  shop,  located  in  the  rear  of  the  theatre, 
on  William  street,  was  secured.  There  was  not  one 
cent  in  the  treasury.  The  day  came  when  money 
must  be  paid  ; and  that  morning,  after  asking  at  the 
family  altar  that  God  would  supply  our  need,  when 
about  to  leave  the  house  of  a dear  sister,  a note  was 
placed  in  our  hands,  written  that  morning  by  one  of 
His  chosen  ones,  a Swedish  lady,  who  had  been  spend- 
ing a few  days  in  the  city,  enclosing  the  desired  amount, 
saying,  “ Please  accept  of  my  mite,  with  prayers  for 
your  success.”  From  that  time,  with  the  want  has 
also  come  the  supply,  even  to  the  furnishing  of  our 
rooms  with  everything  to  make  them  both  comfortable 
and  attractive. 

The  first  of  May  we  rented  the  entire  building  for 
lodging  and  eating  purposes;  and  though  we  had 
nothing  with  which  to  furnish,  in  one  month  it  had  the 
appearance  of  a pleasant,  comfortable  home ; and  here 
a large  number  have  been  cared  for  when  they  most 
needed  help  and  Christian  sympathy.  Since  the  first 
of  May,  one  hundred  have  received  food  and  lodging, 
and  have  thus  been  brought  under  the  power  of  the 
gospel. 

A midday  meeting  has  been  opened  recently,  and  is 
increasing  in  interest  and  numbers.  This  is  sustained 
mostly  by  reformed  men.  Many  young  men  who  were 
this  time  last  year  spending  their  time  and  money 
in  drinking-saloons  and  drunken  brawls,  are  now 
“ clothed  and  in  their  right  minds,”  and  spend  nearly 


CRUSADE  AT  SYRACUSE. 


516 

every  night  In  our  meetings,  saying  it  is  the  best  place 
they  ever  knew. 

Testimonies  like  the  following  are  often  heard : “ 1 
bless  God  for  this  mission.  I have  been  tempted 
beyond  what  1 was  able  to  bear,  and  had  I not  come 
in  and  stayed  all  day  in  this  room,  1 do  not  know  where 
I should  have  been  to-day.  I thank  God  for  putting 
it  Into  the  hearts  of  these  Christian  women  to  open 
these  rooms  for  a refuge  for  such  as  I.  And  these 
meetings  have  been  a great  blessing  to  me.” 

Another  says : “ I have  been  one  of  the  most  wicked 
young  men  in  Albany,  and  my  friends  thought  1 could 
not  be  saved.  And  1 thought  so  too.  But  through 
the  efforts  of  this  mission,  I am  a saved  man.” 

Saloons  have  not  been  left  unvIsited ; and  those  who 
were  once  dealing  out  the  accursed  draught,  thank 
God,  to-day  have  found  a better  way.  Our  room  for 
meetings  has  been  enlarged  three  times.  Recently  a 
glorious  temperance  revival  has  prevailed,  reaching  all 
classes,  which  has  stirred  the  community,  and  encour- 
aged all  Christian  hearts. 

<r> 


SYRACUSE,  NEW  YORK. 

Mrs.  Allen  Butler,  President  of  the  State  Union, 
furnishes  the  following  facts  : 

When  reports  of  the  wonderful  work  for  temperance 
being  done  at  the  West  reached  our  city,  the  inquiry 
began  to  be  made,  if  there  was  not  something  of  the 
kind  needed  here.  After  due  deliberation  a Woman’s 
Temperance  Union  was  formed  in  March,  1874.  The 
city  was  districted,  and  convassed  with  petitions  and 


CRUSADE  AT  SYRACUSE. 


517 


pledges.  The  city  authorities,  board  of  excise,  ministers, 
physician's,  druggists,  grocers,  and  landlords  were  vis- 
ited, petitioned,  and  entreated,  and  as  many  as  pos- 
sible pledged,  not  to  participate  in,  or  countenance  the 
traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors  in  any  way.  An  immense 
amount  of  work  was  done  in  a few  months,  with  but 
little  apparent  success.  The  prayer-meetings  were 
continued  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  early  autumn. 
Prayer-meetings  were  established  in  desolate  parts  of 
the  city,  and  food  distributed.  A suitable  building  was 
secured,  and  a Friendly  Inn  opened  in  sight  of  thirty 
saloons,  to  counteract  influences.  It  was  opened  on 
the  8th  of  July,  1875,  with  pleasant  company,  attractive 
music,  and  sacred  song;  things  so  in  contrast  with  the 
neighborhood,  that  every  passer-by  was  attracted,  and 
led  to  inquire  what  was  going  on.  The  opening  was 
auspicious,  and  for  three  months  theplace  was  thronged 
to  its  utmost  capacity  every  evening,  to  join  in  the 
gospel  temperance  meetings,  and  hear  the  wonderful 
experiences  there  related.  From  the  first  day,  new 
trophies  were  won. 

More  recently  the  reformed  men’s  movement  has 
swept  over  our  city,  and  2,500  have  signed  the  pledge; 
and  1,300  have  united  with  the  Reform  Club,  and  200 
have  been  added  to  the  Young  Men’s  Temperance 
Union,  which  was  already  strong. 

A cold  water  army  was  organized  in  1875,  and  the 
work  is  still  well  sustained. 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCHESTER. 


518 

ROCHESTER,  NEW  YORK. 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Vosburgh  gives  the  following  account  of 
the  work  in  Rochester : 

The  Women’s  Temperance  Crusade  in  Rochester 
began  about  the  middle  of  March,  1874,  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  a committee  of  four  ladies,  who  were  to 
confer  with  the  pastors  of  all  the  city  churches  and 
secure  their  co-operation  in  the  work.  This  committee 
did  their  work  so  well,  and  the  public  mind  was  so 
fully  prepared  for  the  movement,  that  in  a few  days  a 
Woman’s  Temperance  Union  was  formed,  which  soon 
increased  to  500  members,  representing  nearly  every 
church  in  the  city. 

Two  very  large  mass-meetings  were  held,  and  many 
smaller  meetings  in  various  places  Temperance  ser- 
mons were  preached  in  nearly  all  the  churches,  and 
the  entire  city,  with  all  the  region  round  about,  became 
aroused  upon  the  subject.  The  liquor-sellers  were 
very  uneasy,  and  a few  at  this  time  gave  up  the  busi- 
ness voluntarily.  On  the  first  Monday  in  May  there 
was  an  enthusiastic  morninor  meetinor  held  at  the  Cen- 

o o 

tral  Presbyterian  Church,  and  about  200  ladies  went 
in  procession  from  that  place  to  the  court-house,  where 
the  excise  board  were  to  meet  for  the  granting  of 
licenses. 

These  morninof  meetino-s  continued  for  two  weeks 
or  more,  the  time  being  given  mostly  to  prayer.  The 
numbers  increased,  so  that  the  commissioners  adjourned 
to  the  city  hall,  as  the  council  chamber,  in  which  they 
first  assembled,  was  quite  too  small.  At  these  meetings 
remonstrances  against  the  granting  of  licenses  were 


CRUSADE  AT  ROCHESTER. 


519 


read  every  morning,  and  the  same  were  published  by 
the  Daily  Press ; causing  many  to  see  the  evils  of  the 
traffic  who  had  hitherto  thought  but  little  about  it. 

The  liquor-sellers  and  manufacturers,  with  some  of 
their  sympathizers,  had  also  formed  a Union  entitled 
“The  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Personal  and  Reli- 
gious Liberty.”  The  word  religious  was,  however, 
soon  dropped,  as  being  inappropriate.  This  society 
was  very  active,  held  frequent  meetings,  and,  it  was 
said,  had  raised  ^10,000  to  carry  on  their  work. 

During  the  second  week  of  the  month  of  May,  after 
the  ladies  had  marched  in  procession,  as  usual,  to  the 
court-house,  preceded  by  a few  of  the  pastors  and  other 
temperance  men,  a large  number  of  the  liquor-sellers, 
led  by  some  of  the  officers  of  their  society,  appeared 
before  the  Excise  Commissioners,  with  a petition,  signed, 
as  they  claimed,  by  6,000  citizens  and  voters,  asking 
that  licenses  for  the  sale  of  liquors  be  granted  as 
usual.  It  was  ascertained,  upon  examination,  that  this 
immense  petition  was  made  up  largely  of  forged  signa- 
tures, among  which  were  not  only  the  names  of  some 
of  our  best  temperance  men,  but  some  dignitaries  from 
abroad  were  added  to  swell  the  list ; amonof  these  we 
remember  was  the  wife  of  the  Mormon  prophet, 
Brigham  Young,  and  some  who  for  many  years  had 
been  in  the  spirit  world. 

When  this  unlooked-for  examination  revealed  the 
fraud,  the  better  class  of  their  number  seemed  a little 
ashamed,  as  might  have  been  expected. 

Political  influence  was  mightiest  on  their  side, 
however,  and  licenses  were  soon  granted  just  as 


520 


CRUSADE  AT  OSWEGO. 


freely  as  before,  though  action  had  been  stayed  for 
weeks. 

There  is  at  present  a growing  public  sentiment 
against  the  liquor  traffic,  and  the  better  class  of  our 
citizens,  especially  the  Christian  men  and  women,  are 
arraying  themselves  on  the  side  of  temperance.  The 
women,  too,  are  thinking  and  acting  more  intelligently 
and  effectively  for  this  cause  than  in  the  past. 

There  are  now  in  our  city  two  large  and  well-con- 
ducted lunch  houses,  each  under  the  direction  of  a 
board  of  rnanagers,  composed  of  temperance  ladies, 
besides  a number  of  smaller  establishments  of  the  same 
class  owned  and  controlled  by  individuals. 

A Reform  Club  was  organized  about  a year  since, 
and  more  recently  a Temperance  Aid  Society  of  ladies, 
whose  work  is  especially  to  further  the  interest  of  the 
Reform  Club,  and  to  visit  the  families  of  intemperate 
men. 

A Christian  Temperance  Union,  composed  of 
Christian  men  and  women,  has  also  been  organized 
recently,  and  these  are  already  doing  a good  work. 

These  are  all  the  outgrrowth  of  the  Crusade. 

o 

OSWEGO,  NEW  YORK. 

I have  received  the  followingf  facts  from  officers  of 
the  society : 

We  organized  March,  1874,  with  about  thirty  mem- 
bers. Held  our  meetings  in  the  different  churches, 
one  month  in  each,  wishingr  them  to  be  thorough  union, 
feelingr  that  we  must  have  a united  sisterhood  to  face 

o 

the  dark  shadow  which  seemed  to  be  coming  nearer 

O 


CRUSADE  AT  OSWEGO. 


521 


and  nearer,  throwing  its  shade  either  directly  or.  in- 
directly into  almost  every  home. 

About  this  time  we  canvassed  the  city  with  the 
pledge,  with  good  results. 

Our  work  was  persistent  and  earnest  with  the 
saloon-keepers,  city  authorities,  and  wherever  God 
seemed  to  show  an  open  door. 

Committees  were  appointed  to  inspect  the  applica- 
tions made  for  license,  and  it  was  found  that  a majority 
of  them  were  granted  illegally,  and  having  found  who 
the  men  were  who  signed  these  applications,  and  were 
willing  thus  to  encourage  the  traffic,  our  work  was 
then  with  them,  to  try,  if  it  were  possible,  to  persuade 
them  never  to  sign  another  application.  And  great 
was  the  surprise  and  shame  of  many  who  found  that 
what  they  had  done  in  secret  had  been  brought  to  the 
light,  and  many  promises  were  given  that  the  like 
should  not  be  repeated. 

We  organized  a Woman’s  Temperance  Prayer- 
Meeting  on  W ater  street,  led  by  women,  yet  calling 
in  the  aid  of  Christian  men. 

The  fact  that  a few  Christian  women  were  meeting 
twice  a week  for  prayer,  had  its  effect  upon  the 
community. 

We  endeavored  to  look  after  the  poor  suffering 
ones  all  around,  keeping  our  eye  on  the  one  object — 
Christ  and  His  work ; feeling  that  it  was  just  that 
which  brought  Him  down  to  us,  to  raise  the  fallen. 
Some  of  the  crosses  were  very  heavy,  the  greatest, 
perhaps,  of  all  our  life  work,  February  ist,  1875. 

“Four,  ladies  only,  were  present  at  our  meeting; 


CRUSADE  AT  OSWEGO. 


522 

very  earnest  prayers  were  offered  for  direction  and 
help,  and  especially  that  some  influence  might  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  hearts  of  Christian  people, 
to  awaken  them  to  duty,  with  regard  to  temperance 
work.  We  were  not  wholly  discouraged,  for  we  felt 
that  with  God  on  our  side,  07ie  was  a majority.” 

Before  our  next  meeting,  two  reformed  men.  Frost 
and  McKelvey,  had  come  to  our  city  ready  to  work; 
they  hardly  knew  why  they  came,  for  no  one  had 
asked  them,  and  they  had  been  told  not  to  come,  as 
they  could  do  nothing  here.  But  some  of  us  felt  that 
we  knew  how  it  came  about,  and  as  the  work  seemed 
to  take  shape,  Christian  men  said,  this  is  the  result  of 
the  prayers  of  the  faithful  few. 

On  and  on  went  the  work,  until  over  two  thousand 
signed  the  pledge,  while  our  own  numbers  were 
greatly  increased.  A Reform  Club  was  organized, 
with  a reformed  lawyer  as  president. 

One  of  the  saloon-keepers  put  up  a long  sign,  black 
letters  on  white  cloth,  that  could  be  read  two  blocks 
off;  20,000  7neii  wanted  to  drink  20,000  glasses  of  lager 
beer!  It  was  too  much  for  us  to  endure,  and  a com- 
mittee of  two  ladies  was  appointed  to  visit  him ; we 
prepared  a paper  for  him  to  read,  and  went  in  the 
strength  of  the  Master,  gave  him  the  paper,  and  while 
he  read  we  prayed,  silentl}',  yet  earnestly.  At  first,  he 
seemed  quite  indignant,  closed  the  paper  and  passed 
it  back;  I did  not  take  it  (wished  him  to  keep  it).  God 
seemed  to  shut  our  mouths.  Mobile  he  talked,  the 
perspiration  covered  his  face  and  neck,  he  wiping  until 
his  handkerchief  was  thoroughly  drenched.  When  he 


CRUSADE  AT  OSWEGO, 


523 


had  said  all  he  had  to  say,  he  dropped  into  a chair  be- 
hind him;  then  our  lips  were  unsealed  ; he  was  melted, 
promised  to  take  down  his  sign,  and  leave  the  business 
as  soon  as  his  lease  was  out.  He  is  now  a member 
of  the  Reform  Club. 

We  came  from  that  saloon,  saying  to  ourselves  and 
each  other,  “ O ye  of  little  faith.” 

You  can  imagine  the  feelings  of  the  heart  of  his 
faithful  wife,  as  she  rose  in  the  weekly  prayer-meeting 
of  her  own  church,  after  the  happy  event  in  which  all 
rejoiced:  said  she,  “My  husband  has  signed  the  pledge, 
and  I want  you  all  to  pray  for  him;  nay,”  said  she,  “ I 
deina7id  it.”  Do  you  wonder  at  her  earnestness  ? 

May  20th,  a committee  of  our  ladies,  in  connection 
with  a committee  of  gentlemen,  began  to  cast  about 
for  rooms  to  accommodate  this  wonderful  work.  It 
was  soon  done.  On  Washington’s  birthday,  February 
2 2d,  we  met  in  our  new  reading-room. 

We  dedicated  those  rooms  not  only  to  temperance, 
but  to  Christ  and  Flis  work,  for  it  is  all  one. 

Our  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  now 
numbers  about  one  hundred  and  fifty;  and  our  motto 
is,  “ More  earnest  work  for  the  Master.” 

One  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  reform  movement  was 
the  conversion  of  a young  man,  son  of  a prominent 
clergyman  of  the  State,  and  former  pastor  of  one  of 
the  churches  of  this  city.  This  young  man,  the  child 
of  many  prayers  and  much  solicitude,  had,  in  spite  of 
all,  led  a very  intemperate  and  w'ayward  life,  setting 
at  nought  his  father’s  counsels,  and  treating  with  scorn 
his  mother’s  prayers.  His  own  confession  is,  that 
during  the  temperance  work  he  attended  one  of  the 


524 


CRUSADE  AT  OSWEGO. 


Sunday  services,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  went 
with  the  settled  determination  to  be  benefited,  the 
Spirit  of  God  met  him,  and  for  days  he  struggled  with 
the  adversary.  Finally,  at  a public  meeting,  where 
hundreds  were  gathered,  and  among  them  many  of  his 
boon  companions,  he,  in  response  to  a call  for  short 
speeches,  said,  “ My  friends,  the  devil  has  beaten  me 
long  enough,  and  now  I am  determined  to  beat  him, 
' not  only  on  the  whiskey  question,  but,  God  helping  me, 
I mean  to  beat  him  on  sin  of  all  kinds,  and  from  this 
time  forth  to  live  not  only  a temperate  but  a Christian 
life.”  This  was  a great  surprise  to  his  many  friends, 
and  for  the  avowal,  light  soon  broke  into  his  soul,  and 
he  became  a joyful  believer.  The  wires  carried  the 
happy  news  to  his  parents,  the  mails  carried  the  par- 
ticulars ; but  the  old  father  and  mother  wanted  to  see 
their  son,  in  whom  the  Lord  had  wrought  this  mighty 
work.  He  visited  them,  carrying  the  temperance 
spark  with  him. 

At  his  suggestion  a temperance  meeting  was  called. 
Speakers  failed  him,  but  he  was  not  discouraged. 
With  the  local  help  he  had,  he  went  on  with  the  work, 
speaking  himself  with  the  eloquence  the  love  of  God 
and  the  perishing  inspired  him ; and  in  less  than  two 
months  from  the  time  he  became  a converted  temper- 
ance man,  he  had  organized  a reform  club  of  over  six 
hundred  members.  When  he  returned  home,  he  left, 
as  its  president,  a man  who  had  been  a confirmed 
drunkard  for  over  thirty  years.  Among  the  members 
was  nearly  every  drunkard  in  the  town. 

Behold  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done ! 

O O 


CRUSADE  AT  HORNELLSVILLE. 


525 


HORNELLSVILLE,  NEW  YORK. 

Mrs.  Ransom  Sheldon  gives  the  following  account 
of  the  work  in  this  town  ; 

Hornellsville,  a railroad  town  on  the  Erie  Railway, 
with  a population  of  between  eight  and  nine  thousand, 
with  its  five  churches,  none  of  them  blessed  with  a 
large  membership,  with  but  few  pronounced  and  out- 
spoken Christian  people,  was  cursed  with  eighty-six 
saloons  and  places  where  they  sold  liquor.  Prominent 
wealthy  business  men  were  none  of  them  temperance 
men.  Youno-  men  startinof  in  life  had  few  correct 
examples  of  living  placed  before  them.  Society  was 
gay,  and  the  wine  cup  flowed  freely,  when  the  Woman’s 
Crusade  movement  found  its  way  to  Hornellsville. 
By  obtaining  a few  names,  a meeting  was  called.  Our 
business  men  were  so  afraid  to  be  identified,  that  we 
failed  in  our  first  selection  of  chairman,  which  was  the 
President  of  our  village.  Our  clergy,  to  their  honor 
be  it  spoken,  stood  out  pronounced  temperance  men. 
The  women  were  organized  for  work,  the  town  can- 
vassed for  pledges,  and  all-day  meeting  was  held,  in 
which  the  reports  were  brought  in  with  rejoicing  and 
cheering.  Three  thousand  women,  fifteen  hundred 
voters,  and  four  hundred  minors  signed  the  pledge  as 
the  result  of  this  effort. 

The  Woman’s  Temperance  Prayer-Meeting  was  or- 
ganized and  well  sustained ; public  opinion  in  favor  of 
temperance  was  created  ; and  much  good  was  accom- 
plished. Different  lecturers  were  employed,  and 
various  means  adopted  to  sustain  the  interest. 

When  our  efforts  seemed  not  to  avail,  we  had  re- 


526 


CRUSADE  AT  HORNELLSVILLE. 


course  to  law,  and  six  hundred  dollars  in  fines  was 
saved  to  the  county  by  prosecuting  violations  of  law. 
This  plan  was  followed  for  one  year,  a man  being  hired 
whose  business  it  was  to  work  up  cases,  present  them 
at  court,  and  follow  them  through. 

Last  winter  we  were  blessed  with  a special  outpour- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  our  woman’s  meeting  felt  its 
influence,  and  we  were  moved  to  pray  especially  that  a 
man  adapted  to  temperance  work  might  be  sent  to  us. 
Our  railroad  men,  who  went  to  Salamanca,  returned 
with  accounts  of  the  wonderful  good  John  R.  Clark 
was  accomplishing  in  Salamanca,  Bradford,  and  other 
places.  Mr.  Clark  came  to  Hornellsville  for  a four 
days’  meeting.  The  ladies  secured  the  Opera  House. 
The  weather  was  most  unfavorable.  A large  audi- 
ence, however,  gathered.  When  the  opportunity  was 
given  to  sign  the  pledge,  a great  rush  was  immedi- 
ately made. 

The  morning  prayer-meetings  were  continued,  and 
many  who  signed  the  pledge  at  night  came  into  the 
meetinor  in  the  mornino-  and  were  converted.  It  was 

o o ^ 

a glorious  time.  The  whole  community  were  never 
before  so  stirred.  Young  men,  old  men,  all  classes 
and  conditions  felt  its  influence.  Temperance  prin- 
ciples were  advocated  by  men  who  had  always  advo- 
cated and  practised  intemperance.  Some  saloons 
were  closed,  and  the  liquor  business  was  much  crip- 
pled. Temperance  lecturers  came  to  the  front  from 
among  our  lawyers  and  editors,  and  outside  towns 
were  visited  and  canvassed  for  pledges.  The  greatest 
evidence  of  good  accomplished  was  manifest  in  the 


CRUSADE  AT  UTICA, 


527 


late  strike  on  the  Erie  Railroad,  when  for  nearly  a 
week  our  town  was  under  martial  law,  and  a drunken 
man  was  not  to  be  seen,  and  law  and  good  order 
prevailed  to  a degree  not  before  realized. 

The  temperance  work  in  Hornellsville  has  accom- 
plished great  results  in  saving  our  community  from 
many  evils,  and  has  blessed  many  homes.  There  still 
remaineth,  however,  much  land  to  be  possessed.  One 
blessed  result  of  this  effort  has  been  the  saving  of 
Hon.  Horace  Bemis,  an  eminent  lawyer,  who  has  given 
his  fine  talents  as  a lecturer  to  the  cause,  and  western 
New  York  and  northern  Pennsylvania  have  felt  his 
influence  as  an  inspiration. 

UTICA,  NEW  YORK. 

Mrs.  D.  E.  Stevens  furnishes  the  followinor  facts : 

o 

The  Crusade  work  in  the  city  of  Utica,  unobtrusively 
as  it  has  been  done,  was  the  origin  of  our  present 
organization  and  success  in  the  temperance  cause. 
Mrs.  M.  M.  Northrop,  upon  whom  this  fell  most 
heavily,  was  probably  the  first  to  do  real  Crusade 
work,  a woman  known  for  her  good  deeds  among  the 
poor.  She  says  when  the  news  first  reached  her  of 
the  Ohio  Crusade,  a strange  feeling  came  over  her, 
that  caused  her  to  betake  herself  to  prayer — to  very 
earnest  prayer.  The  subject  was  so  constantly  before 
her  mind  that  she  was  compelled  to  speak  to  all  whom 
she  met  on  the  subject  of  temperance.  Einding  no 
sympathy,  she  felt  alone  in  the  work,  and  could  only 
cry  mightily  to  God  for  help,  who  seemed  to  hold  her 
responsible  for  this  great  service  in  her  own  city. 


528 


CRUSADE  AT  UTICA. 


After  a little,  she  found  a good  Christian  sister,  in 
whose  heart  there  was  a response  for  this  work  (Mrs, 

T by  name).  Together,  she  and  Mrs.  T 

visited  saloon  after  saloon,  urging  the  saloon-keepers 
to  leave  off  the  terrible  traffic ; singing  in  each  place 
as  they  went. 

In  one  instance  they  met,  as  keeper  of  a saloon,  a 
woman  of  ill-fame,  upon  whom  the  singing  had  a pow- 
erful effect.  She  wept  and  kept  hold  of  Mrs,  Nor- 
throp’s  hands,  as  though  she  could  not  let  her  go,  fol- 
lowing her  to  the  door  with  streaming  eves. 

In  another,  God  had  preceded  them,  and  the  saloon- 
keeper owned  his  dislike  for  the  business ; and  told 
them  of  the  daughters  of  church  members  who  came 
there  to  drink  (it  being  a little  out  of  the  city),  and 
then  went  near  by  to  a house  of  ill-fame.  They 
sought  them  there,  but  could  not  find  them.  This 
saloon-keeper  promised  and  did  give  up  his  business, 
and  became,  not  long  after,  a member  of  a Christian 
church. 

The  spirit  of  indifference  that  pervaded  the  hearts 
of  Christians  on  this  subject  seemed  terrible  to  Mrs. 
Northrop;  as  she  walked  the  streets,  the  burden 
grew  so  heavy  upon  her  she  groaned  aloud.  iMeet- 
ing  a Christian  sister  one  day,  a lady  of  wide  influence, 
the  lady  accosted  her  with,  “Well,  Mrs.  Northrop, 
how  does  the  temperance  work  go  on  ? ” “ Poorly, 

Mrs.  B , very  poorly.  Were  all  who  profess  an 

interest  in  temperance  consea'atcd  workers,  the  work 
would  go  on,  and  if  some  one  does  not  take  up  this 
cause  and  help  to  carry  it  forward,  I believe  this  burden 


CRUSADE  AT  UTICA, 


529 


will  crush  me.”  Mrs.  B looked  up  in  her  face, 

apparendy  astonished.  Said  she,  “Well,  perhaps  the 
burden  has  got  to  come  over  on  to  me.”  And  it  did. 
Through  this  woman  the  door  was  opened  to  a grand 
temperance  rally  in  this  city.  Ready  hearts  were 
found,  who  met  weekly  at  the  cross,  until  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  fell  upon  them  likewise.  To  us  the  work 
seems  but  just  begun,  although  we  have  some  2,000 
signers  to  the  pledge,  and  over  500  members  to  the 
club  who  wear  the  blue  ribbon. 

We  look  to  God,  believing  that  his  power  alo7ie  can 
accomplish  this  work,  We  are  but  the  willing  instru- 
ments in  his  hands,  to  serve  or  to  sit  still  at  his  bidding. 

One  of  our  most  faithful  workers  in  the  Crusade, 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Patterson,  whose  age  is  sixty-two  years,  is 
a woman  who  has  suffered  greatly  from  the  terrible 
curse  of  intemperance.  Her  husband,  once  in  the 
habit  of  drinking,  is  now  a reformed  and  Christian 
man.  Her  two  sons,  drunkards,  one  supposed  to  be 
hopelessly  lost,  are  both  of  them  now  members  of  our 
Reform  Club,  and  thus  far  faithful  to  their  vows. 

Suffering  so  greatly  herself,  Mrs.  Patterson  was 
exercised  in  an  unusual  manner,  not  only  for  her  own 
sons  and  husband,  but  for  the  sons  and  husbands  of 
other  mothers  and  wives.  “ O,”  said  she,  “ how  I 
have  prayed,  and  wrestled  with  God  in  prayer  ; night 
after  night  I have  walked  the  floor,  weeping  and  pray- 
ing, watching  for  the  unsteady  footsteps  of  my  boys. 
Yes,  and  sometimes  I have  spent  whole  nights  on  miy 
knees,  till  the  morning  shone  in  upon  me,  praying  that 
God  would  send  some  one,  or  raise  up  some  person 
34 


530 


CRUSADE  AT  UTICA. 


or  persons  who  would  help  to  do  away  with  this  terri- 
ble curse.  How  1 have  prayed  and  wrestled  for  our 
city ! I have  gone  from  saloon  to  saloon,  trying  to 
persuade  them  to  stop  selling  this  accursed  stuff  And 
then  aeain  I have  shrunk  back  and  thought,  I am  like 
Jonah  fleeing  away  from  the  work  God  had  called  me 
to  do,  so  I went  on  again,  trying  to  do  my  best. 

“At  one  time  I went  to  a saloon,  where  they  had 
drawn  in  my  boys,  where  they  were  dealing  out  death 
to  them,  and  I found  the  saloon-keeper’s  wife  stand- 
ing behind  the  bar  dealing  out  liquor,  and  I said  to 
her:  ‘Can  you,  a mother,  deal  out  death  and  hell  to 
my  boys,  and  the  sons  of  other  mothers  ? Would  you 
like  it  to  have  me  deal  out  poison  to  your  sons? 
What  would  you  think  of  me,  or  any  other  mother,  to 
do  that  \.o  yoiu's?  and  yet  you  are  doing  it  to  mine.’ 

“ Said  the  saloon-woman  : ‘ Do  not  talk  thus  to  me. 
Do  not  talk  to  me.’ 

“Shall  not  I,  a mother,  whose  heart  is  wrung  with 
anguish,  speak  to  you  ? I tell  \ ou  God  will  yet  speak 
to  you,  in  thunder  tones,  if  you  do  not  desist.  I have 
not  come  to  blame,  nor  to  reproach,  but  to  pray  you 
to  give  up  selling  this  accursed  rum.’” 

And  then,  with  hands  clasped  to  heaven,  she 
prayed:  “How  long,  O God,  how  long,  shall  we 
mothers  pray  and  weep  and  lament  for  our  sons? 
How  long  shall  our  hearts  be  wrung  with  bitter 
anguish?  How  long  shall  this  terrible  curse  be  forced 
upon  us,  and  we  lie  powerless  before  this  foe?” 

And  thus  she  poured  forth  her  woe  in  prayer.  She 
was  driven  from  the  saloon  by  the  woman  behind  the 
bar. 


CRUSADE  AT  ROME. 


531 


She  has  been  so  worn  with  her  griefs,  that  I had 
supposed  her  to  be  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  Her 
voice  sounds  like  a song  of  prayer.  She  would  gladly 
go  from  saloon  to  saloon,  to-day,  on  her  knees,  she 
says,  if  in  this  wise  she  could  do  away  with  this  abom- 
inable evil  that  is  cursing  our  city.  Her  zeal  is  in  no- 
wise slackened  by  the  salvation  of  her  husband  and 
sons,  and  her  “ Glory  to  God  in  the  highest  ” is  like  a 
Te  Deum. 

ROME,  NEW  YORK. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  R.  M.  Bingham  for  the  fol- 
lowing report: 

The  reports  of  the  wonderful  revival  of  the  temper- 
ance work  in  the  West,  a little  more  than  three  years 
ago,  inspired  the  friends  of  the  cause  in  this  place  to 
hope  that  something  might  be  done  in  our  city. 

About  forty  ladies  responded  to  the  first  call  for 
workers. 

A daily  meeting  for  prayer  and  counsel  was  inaugu- 
rated. These  meetings  have  been  characterized  by 
earnest  and  prayerful  enthusiasm,  prompted  by  a gen- 
uine dependence  on  God,  and  faith  in  His  promises. 
The  efforts  made  to  stay  the  tide  of  intemperance,  or 
to  interpose  any  obstacle  to  its  progress,  revealed  the 
great  power  of  the  foe  with  which  we  had  to  cope,  and 
the  strength  of  its  intrenchments.  It  could  count 
among  its  allies  Christian  men  not  a few,  and  its  sup- 
porters were  to  be  found  in  the  temples  of  law  and  jus- 
tice. So  potent  was  its  influence  that  all  branches  of 
trade  and  business  were  more  or  less  bound  by  its  fet- 
ters. In  our  helplessness  we  cried  to  God,  and  our 


532 


CRUSADE  AT  ROME. 


hearts  went  out  in  greater  love  for  the  guilty  as  well 
as  the  suffering  ones. 

Frequent  mass-meetings  were  held  in  the  churches 
and  other  public  places. 

The  city  was  canvassed,  and  over  a thousand  women 
gave  their  names,  pledging  themselves  to  do  what  they 
could  to  promote  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  we 
think  the  moral  power  cannot  be  estimated,  of  this 
large  number  of  women,  each  acting  conscientiously  in 
her  own  family  and  sphere  of  influence.  A committee 
of  ladies  Avas  appointed  to  ask  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Board  of  Excise  to  grant  no  licenses;  and  if  Ave  did 
fail  to  see  our  hearts’  desire  accomplished,  AA'e  are  glad 
those  prayers  and  tearful  appeals  stand  as  our  protest 
against  the  monster  evil. 

Much  faithful  labor  has  been  done  in  circulating  the 
pledge,  and  many  have  been  induced  to  sign  it,  and 
have  been  rescued  from  a drunkard’s  disgrace  and  a 
drunkard’s  grave. 

One  only  aa'o  avIII  mention — Joseph  Higgins,  the 
blacksmith:  a most  AA’onderful  example  of  the  poAver 
of  God,  in  removing  all  appetite  for  intoxicants,  after 
their  use  for  many  years.  He  is  doing  much  for  the 
salvation  of  others.  We  can  but  exclaim,  “What  hath 
God  Avrought!  ” 

In  1876,  the  temperance  ladies  made  a centennial 
offering  to  the  city,  of  four  drinking-fountains,  A'alued 
at  $450. 

Children’s  meetings  have  been  held,  and  a large 
number  have  signed  the  pledge. 

We  see  indications  of  the  improvement,  and  strength- 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


533 


ening  of  the  temperance  sentiment  of  the  city.  We 
believe  the  so-called  ^^respectability"  of  liquor-selling 
has  diminished — that  fewer  persons  offer  wine  on  New 
Year’s  day,  and  other  special  occasions,  than  formerly. 
A number  of  suffering  wives  of  drunkards  have  recov- 
ered damages  from  the  liquor-seller  under  the  civil 
damage  act.  And  not  the  least  of  the  good  results  of 
our  work  is  the  increase  of  Christian  fellowship  in  the 
different  churches  of  our  city. 

The  hearts  of  the  workers  have  been  united,  and  we 
have-  not  thought  of  denominational  differences  in  our 

o 

work  of  love.  And,  although  but  a small  part  of  what 
we  had  hoped  has  been  accomplished,  we  do  not  feel 
discouraged  or  inclined  to  cease  our  efforts  in  this 

o 

great  work.  “In  God  we  trust,”  and  with  Him  for  us, 
who  can  be  against  us? 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Helen  E.  Brown,  for  the 
following  able  report  of  the  work  in  this  city  : 

From  the  first  blast  of  the  trumpet  borne  to  our 
ears  across  the  Alleghenies,  calling  the  daughters  of 
Zion  to  the  holy  war,  there  were  found  hearts  in  Neyv 
York  city  thrilling  with  sympathy,  and  eager  to  enter 
the  work.  How  it  was  to  be  done,  what  shape  it 
would  take  in  the  metropolis,  could  not  at  first  be  seen  ; 
but  devoted  Christian  women  gave  themselves  to  the 
Lord  with  a solemn  consecration,  promising  to  do 
whatever  he  should  direct.  He  would  surely  make  the 
way  plain,  and  though  they  could  see  but  one  step  at 
a time,  that  one  step  they  decided  to  take  just  as  soon 


534 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY’. 


as  it  was  made  visible.  The  first  thing  naturally  was 
to  assemble  for  prayer. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1874,  one  of  our  sisters  was 
on  her  way  to  a prayer-meeting,  and  waited  at  the 
corner  of  the  street  for  a car.  The  corner  store  was 
a liquor  saloon,  and  as  she  stood  there,  she  thought 
of  the  many,  many  similar  places  in  the  city  where  the 
deadly  poison  was  dealt  out  to  her  fellow-creatures, 
and  her  heart  went  up  in  prayer  that  God  would  seal 
up  these  fountains  of  iniquity.  Just  then  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  store  appeared,  and  seeing  the  woman’s 
thoughtful  attitude,  he  said  to  her,  “ Are  you  one  of 
the  temperance  crusaders?  ” He  had  evidently  been 
reading  the  exciting  reports  with  which  the  daily  papers 
were  filled.  The  question  seemed  to  her  of  the  Lord, 
and  she  instantly  replied,  “ I am.”  “ Won’t  you  come 
in,  then  ? you’re  welcome,”  said  he.  The  sister,  feel- 
ing that  it  was  not  wise  to  make  the  visit  alone,  replied, 
“ I am  on  an  errand  now  to  another  part  of  the  city ; 
when  I return,  I will  call.”  She  went  to  the  meeting, 
which  was  one  of  a series  of  holiness  meetings  then  in 
progress  in  the  Seventeenth  Street  M.  E.  Church, 
Rev.  Mr.  Boole’s,  and  there  related  the  circumstance, 
and  begged  that  some  one  would  give  herself  to  the 
Lord  for  this  service,  and  accompany  her  on  this  visit. 
Two  ladies  volunteered,  and  they  went  out,  followed 
by  the  earnest  prayers  of  the  assembly.  The  Lord 
went  with  them.  They  were  greatly  blessed  in  their 
visit,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  great  good  in 
several  ways  followed.  Thus  the  work  was  inaugu- 
rated in  the  city. 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


535 


A praying-band  was  at  once  formed  in  that  church, 
•curd,  simultaneously,  in  different  sections  of  the  city, 
and  saloon-work  was  undertaken  in  earnest.  This  was 
done  quietly,  the  sisters  going  in  twos  and  threes, 
always  presenting  the  gospel  message,  praying  and 
singing  whenever  permission  could  be  obtained,  and 
leaving  tracts,  papers  and  printed  invitations  to  prayer- 
meetings.  Many  hundreds  of  saloons  were  thus  visited, 
and  incidents  of  the  most  interesting  character  occurred. 
Saloons  were  shut  up,  and  rumsellers  converted,  who 
stand  now  in  the  church  of  Christ,  monuments  of  his 
saving  power. 

The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  in  April.  It  was  brought  about  by  the 
clerical  committee  formed  by  the  National  Temperance 
Society  to  consider  the  general  subject,  and  was 
intended  to  brings  toQ-ether  the  workingf  element  of 
all  the  churches.  There  was  not,  however,  a very 
prompt  response  to  this  call.  One  and  another  began 
to  make  excuse,  and  the  result  was  that  we  had  at  no 
time  more  than  thirty  active  members,  and  as  we  began 
operations  at  the  very  close  of  the  working  season, 
our  numbers  were  soon  greatly  reduced.  A daily 
prayer-meeting  was  sustained,  however,  through  the 
entire  season,  and  was  always  as  a well  in  the  valley 
of  Baca.  The  Lord  never  failed  to  refresh  our  souls, 
and  our  love  for  one  another,  our  faith  in  God,  and  our 
devotion  to  the  cause  steadily  increased. 

At  the  first  a committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the 
clergymen  of  the  city,  and  ascertain  to  what  extent  we 
might  expect  their  co-operation.  Here  unexpected 


536  CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 

disappointment  met  us.  W e found  every  denomination 
more  or  less  apathetic,  the  ministry  indifferent  or  faith- 
less, and  in  the  membership  a deplorable  lack  of  princi- 
ple. It  was  a sad  revelation,  but  it  taught  us  this  lesson, 
that  temperance  work  was  needed  in  the  church  as 
well  as  out  of  It.  How  should  it  be  done?  To  the 
Lord  we  went  In  our  trouble. 

A series  of  Sunday  evening  meetings  was  com- 
menced In  the  churches,  wherever  admission  could  be 
obtained.  There  were  some  noble  champions  of  the 
cause,  who  were  always  ready  to  open  their  doors,  and 
to  aid  us  to  their  utmost  ability.  They  encouraged 
and  counselled.  It  was  thought  best . from  the  first 
that  the  women  should  plead  their  own  cause,  and 
with  the  Lord’s  help  they  were  enabled  to  do  it. 
Thouofh  unaccustomed  to  service  of  this  kind,  it  was 
undertaken  In  obedience  to  the  Divine  call,  and  the 
effort  was  greatly  blessed. 

Another  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the  Ex- 
cise Board.  This  interview  gave  us  a still  clearer 
insight  into  the  vastness  of  the  work  upon  which  we 
had  entered.  We  were  advised  to  a double  course 
of  duty;  on  the  one  side  to  exert  ourselves  to  create 
a public  opinion  in  favor  of  temperance;  and  on  the 
other,  to  take  immediate  measures  to  prosecute  the 
liquor-dealers  for  violation  of  the  license  and  Sabbath 
laws.  But,  after  prayerful  consideration,  we  decided 
to  waive  the  legal  work  and  go  forward  on  the  gospel 
principles  of  “love,  persuasion  and  prayer.”  We 
hoped  much  from  our  public  meetings,  believing  that 
our  Christian  brothers  would  be  aroused  to  partici- 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


537 


pate  in  the  work,  and  to  do  that  which  was  beyond 
our  reach.  But  our  surest  hope  was  in  the  power  of 
prayer.  “Ask,  believe,  receive,”  was  our  motto. 
Like  the  stripling  David  of  old,  we  went  forth  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  to  meet  the  giant. 

When  the  city  churches  were  closed  for  the  summer, 
and  the  congregations  were  dispersed,,  we  asked  the 
Lord  what  he  would  have  us  do;  and  the  way  was 
opened  in  a remarkable  manner,  for  work  among 
inebriates.  This  was  prosecuted  with  untiring  .ardor, 
by  the  few  workers  left  behind  in  the  city.  The 
prisons,  hospitals,  and  charitable  institutions  of  the 
cit}^,  which  were  mainly  filled  with  the  victims  of  the 
cup,  were  visited,  and  the  gospel  of  God’s  free  grace 
presented.  Industrial  and  mission  schools  too  were 
instructed  often,  and  thoroughly  in  the  truths  of  tem- 
perance and  salvation.  Much  faithful  effort  was  put 
forth,  and  with  good  results.  Souls  were  saved;  but, 
perhaps,  better  than  all  the  workers  were  themselves 
enriched  with  an  experience  which  proved  invaluable 
in  their  after  labors. 

During  the  summer  of  1874,  our  first  gospel  tem- 
perance meeting  was  established,  in  one  of  the  most 
desperately  wicked  localities  of  the  city;  and  from  its 
beginning,  we  had  the  most  wondefful  manifestations 
of  God’s  power  to  save.  We  were  surrounded  by 
dance-houses  of  the  worst  description,  and  wedged 
in  between  two  of  the  vilest  dens  of  the  city.  We 
followed  prayer  with  work;  and  public  ineetings  were 
held,  statedly,  on  Sunday  evening,  with  weekly  visita- 
tions in  this  godless  section  of  the  city.  It  was  with 


5 3 '3  CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 

fear  and  ti-cnibling,  but  with  earnest  prayer  and  simple 
trust,  we  entered  these  wretched  bucket-shops,  where 
men  and  women  were  crowded  together  in  every  stage 
of  beastly  intoxication. 

On  one  occasion,  three  of  us  went  together  to  a 
corner  shop  of  the  most  notorious  character.  About 
twenty  women  were  huddled  together  in  one  corner; 
vile,  disfigured,  clad  in  filthy  rags,  and  presenting  an 
appearance  to  melt  the  hardest  heart.  To  think  that 
woman  could  fall  so  low — so  low!  Could  such  as 
these  be  saved  ? But  they  were  silent  and  resjDectful, 
with  the  exception  of  one  brawler,  who  was  soon 
shamed  by  the  bar-tender’s  reproachful  thrust:  “If  the 
like  of  these  ladies  come  to  see  yez,  ye  can,  at  least, 
hear  what  they  have  to  say  to  yez.”  “ There’s  worse 
than  we  here,”  they  said ; after  a few  words  had  been 
spoken  to  one  and  another,  and  opening  a door  they' 
pointed  the  way  into  a small,  dark,  inner  room,  the 
air  stifling  and  fetid  with  liquor.  One  poor  drunken 
wretch  stood  in  the  centre  of  this  apartment,  and  on 
the  floor  and  settees  around  it  were  twelve  others, 
sleeping  the  heavy'  sleep  of  a drunkard.  We  were 
almost  overcome  by  the  appalling  sight;  but  in  a 
moment,  as  if  it  were  the  rally  of  our  faith,  we  raised 
the  beautiful  hymn- 

God  loved  the  world  of  sinners  lost 
And  ruined  by  the  fall ; 

Salvation  full  at  highest  cost. 

He  offers  free  to  all. 

Oh,  ’twas  love,  ’twas  wondrous  love, 

The  love  of  God  to  me; 

It  brought  my  Saviour  from  above, 

To  die  on  Calvary.” 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY.  539 

We  had  not  sung  two  lines  before  every  head,  one 
after  another,  had  come  up  with  a wondering  expres- 
sion; then  the  big  tears  began  to  fall,  and  by  the  time 
we  had  finished  the  strain,  the  sobs  and  groans  were 
pitiful  to  hear.  Then  we  prayed  for  that  uttermost 
salvation  of  Jesus,  that  His  mighty  love  might  rescue 
some  of  these  poor  fallen  ones  from  the  jaws  of  hell. 
As  we  went  outside  they  followed  us  with  staggering 
steps,  and  one  poor  marred,  wretched  woman  drew 
near,  and  asked,  with  trembling  lips,  “Won’t  you  sing 
‘Whiter  than  snow?’”  Those  words,  seemingly  so 
incongruous  in  that  dark  place,  never  seemed  so 
precious,  as  we  sang  them  with  our  hearts  resting  on 
the  promise,  “Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  white  as  snow.” 

Several  girls  followed  us  that  day  to  homes  of  safety, 
which  we  were  able  to  provide  for  them  in  institutions 
and  refuges  in  the  city.  One  of  them,  at  least,  was 
saved.  We  heard  her  afterwards  give  her  simple,  tri- 
umphant testimony  to  the  power  of  Jesus,  to  which 
she  added:  “Oh,  how  I wish  I had  a voice  to  reach  from 
here  to  Water  street,  that  I might  tell  every  poor  girl 
there  that  Jesus  can  save  her,  too,  and  wash  her  whiter 
than  snow  in  His  precious  blood.” 

In  the  fall  the  campaign  opened  vigorously.  Gos- 
pel meetings  in  the  churches  and  in  the  slums,  in  the 
city  and  the  towns  outside,  were  diligently  held.  In- 
terest seemed  rising,  and  efforts  were  put  forth  in 
various  parts  of  the  city  to  put  down  the  traffic  and 
lift  up  the  drunkard  by  the  power  of  the  gospel.  The 
daily  prayer-meeting  was  still  sustained,  and  at  our 


540 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


first  annual  meeting  we  had  only  to  recount  the 
mercies  of  the  Lord. 

The  second  summer  was  a marked  one  in  the  his- 
tory of  our  work  in  Water  street.  The  vile  rum-shop 
on  one  side  of  the  Mission  House  had  been  closed  in 
answer  to  prayer,  and  so  effectually  that  the  owner  of 
the  property  could  never  relet  it.  He  determined  to 
pull  down  the  old  building,  and  replace  it  with  a sub- 
stantial warehouse.  In  the  meantime,  the  chapel  was 
rendered  untenantable,  but  the  meetings  must  not  be 
relinquished.  They  sought  and  obtained  permission 
to  hold  them,  for  the  time  being,  in  the  dance-house  on 
the  other  side;  and  there  for  four  months  held  the  fort 
in  Jesus’  name,  and  by  His  grace,  with  courage  and 
success. 

In  one  of  the  meetings  a young  w'oman  of  modest 
appearance,  and  neatly  attired,  rose  and  said ; “ I have 
come  here  to-night  to  ask  the  privilege  of  signing  your 
temperance  pledge,  and  to  tell  you  how  much  good 
you  have  done  me.  I was  living  not  far  from  here,  in 
one  of  the  worst  houses,  and  the  first  night  you  opened 
I was  passing  by,  and  came  in,  as  I had  many  a time 
before,  for  a drink.  I found  the  bar  closed,  and  this 
dance-hall  liorhted  for  a meeting.  The  singing  sounded 
so  sweet  I slipped  in  and  sat  down  on  a back  seat. 
The  words  you  spoke  made  me  cry.  When  you  asked 
those  who  wanted  to  be  saved  to  stand  up  for  prayer, 
I longed  to  get  up,  but  I couldn’t.  But  I made  up  my 
mind  then  that  I would  lead  a better  life,  and  that  I 
never,  never  would  go  back  to  that  wicked  home  again. 
But  I had  no  place  to  go  to,  and  what  could  I do?  I 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


541 


walked  the  streets  for  hours,  and  at  last  asked  a police- 
man to  send  me  to  the  station-house,  and  he  did. 
There,  in  my  cell,  I kneeled  down  and  cried  to  the 
Lord,  and  gave  Him  my  heart.  The  next  day  I went 
out  to  find  a place  for  honest  labor,  and  the  Lord  sent 
me  to  a orood  Christian  woman,  and  I am  living  with 
her  now.  I mean,  with  God’s  help,  to  serve  Him  all 
the  rest  of  my  days.” 

On  that  same  memorable  first  evening  a young  man 
staggered  into  the  rum-shop  for  a drink,  was  per- 
suaded to  enter  the  meetinm  where  he  took  a drauHit 

o o 

of  the  water  of  life  and  was  saved.  Llis  father  and 
brother,  both  addicted  to  intemperance,  subsequently 
came  to  the  meetings,  and  were  converted.  All  three 
are  now  standing  on  the  rock  Christ,  and  are  laboring 
earnestly  in  a temperance  revival  in  another  city.  In- 
cidents like  these,  showing  the  wonders  of  God’s 
mighty  love,  could  be  greatly  multipled. 

The  next  year’s  labor  of  the  Union  presented  some 
new  features.  It  was  during  this  year  that  the  hippo- 
drome was  opened  for  the  evangelistic  work  of  Moody 
and  Sankey  in  New  York.  Prior  to  their  coming  we 
had  sent  forward  a request  that  one  day  in  each  week 
might  be  devoted  to  temperance.  The  request  was 
favorably  considered,  and  Friday  was  set  apart  as 
temperance  day.  The  members  of  the  Union  were 
diligent  in  their  co-operation  in  this  gospel  work,  some 
of  them  devoting  their  entire  time  to  it.  They  worked 
in  the  inquiry  rooms,  visited  from  house  to  house,  and 
did  their  part  to  sustain  the  woman’s  meetings,  which 
were  thronged  and  of  thrilling  power. 


542 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


During-  this  year  also  very  successful  outside  labor 
was  accomplished,  members  of  the  Union  going  out  to 
other  towns,  and  holding  a series  of  private  and  pub- 
lic meetings,  through  one  or  two  days  ; organizing  the 
work  and  stimulatino-  their  sisters.  These  occasions 

o 

were  attended  with  a rich  blessinor  from  on  hlofh. 

The  juvenile  work  also  occupied  the  attention  of 
some  of  our  most  earnest  workers.  This  has  been  well 
begun,  especially  among  the  class  of  children  gathered 
into  the  industrial  and  mission  schools  of  the  city. 
Our  hope  is  in  the  children,  and,  as  far  as  we  have 
gone,  we  find  there  Is  no  more  effectual  method  of 
reaching  the  homes  of  the  drinking  classes  than 
through  the  little  ones. 

In  the  fall  of  1875  a coffee-house  was  projected, 
and  engrossed  the  Union  during  the  fokowin  ' year. 
It  did  not,  however,  prove  a success  as  a business 
enterprise.  It  drained  our  financial  resources,  failed 
to  reach  the  class  for  whom  it  was  designed,  consumed 
In  secular  interests  the  time  and  energies  of  the 
workers,  and  thus  unavoidably  diverted  them,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  the  spiritual  work  to  which  they 
had  been  devoted.  The  struggle  was  continued 
through  a period  of  fifteen  months,  and  then  was 
given  up. 

The  gospel  meetings  held  at  the  coffee-house,  how- 
ever, accomplished  much  good.  Many  souls  were 
hopefully  reclaimed  from  the  depths  of  intemperance, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  some  of  whom  have  labored 
publicly  and  diligently  in  the  service  of  God. 

As  we  look  around  from  our  present  standpoint, 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


543 


we  are  assured  that  the  Lord  has  set  his  seal  of  ap- 
proval upon  the  labors  and  influence  of  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union.  We  see  the  increased 
attention  given  to  this  subject,  the  rising  of  public  sen- 
timent, the  efforts,  though  spasmodic  and  almost  farcical, 
to  put  down  the  traffic,  the  more  positive  espousal  of  the 
cause  by  ministers  and  churches,  the  establishment  of 
gospel  temperance  meetings  on  every  hand,  in  the 
openness  of  the  people  to  the  truth,  and  the  increased 
demand  for  Christian  temperance  laborers.  All  this 
we  recognize  as  answer  to  prayer,  and  a pleasant  fore- 
taste of  what  the  Lord  is  ready  to  do  for  us. 

“It  Is  useless  for  the  women  to  do  anything  here; 
New  York  is  a walled  city,”  said  a liquor-dealer  to 
one  of  our  visitors.  In  the  early  days  of  the  Crusade. 
And,  indeed,  we  have  proved  It  so;  Its  walls  are  thick 
and  high,  and  to  all  human  force  impregnable.  First  in 
the  Intrenchments  are  the  drunkards,  men  and  women, 
standing  shoulder  to  shoulder,  not  very  erect  and  firm, 
it  is  true,  but,  supported  and  filled  in  by  the  moderate 
drinkers  next  behind  them,  every  one  is  a brick  well 
laid.  Then  come  the  domestic  and  social  users  and 
offerers  of  beer  and  w'ine,  next  the  traffickers,  then  the 
property-holders  with  their  wealth  and  greed,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  since  they  afford  strength,  finish, 
and  adornment  to  the  defences,  stands  the  Church  In 
its  cold  indifference.  What  a strono-  wall  is  this  ! No 

O 

wonder  our  opponents  feel  secure  behind  it;  no  won- 
der human  sight  discerns  no  way  to  overthrow  it. 

But  the  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us ; the  Lord  strong 
and  mighty,  and,  even  in  New  York,  wc  are  not  dis- 


544 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


heartened.  The  multitude  on  the  side  of  wrong  is 
immense,  but  chased  by  the  army  of  God’s  resurrected 
ones,  must  and  will  flee.  The  weapons  of  our  warfare 
are  not  carnal  but  spiritual,  and,  for  that  very  reason, 
will  be  invincible. 

BROOKLYN,  NEW  YORK. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Johnson,  President 
of  the  Brooklyn  Union,  for  the  following  facts: 

In  the  month  of  January,  1874,  Mrs.  Caroline  E. 
Ladd,  who  was  chosen  to  lead  a Union  Bible  Class, 
which  met  weekly  in  the  Friends’  Church,  was  so 
strongly  convinced  that  the  time  had  now  come  for  the 
inauguration  of  a woman’s  temperance  prayer  move- 
ment in  this  city,  that  she  said  she  could  not  consent 
attain  to  conduct  the  exercises  of  the  class  unless  a 
half-hour  should  be  spent  in  prayer  to  God  for  the 
success  of  the  temperance  cause,  now  given  by  Divine 
commission  to  Christian  women.  Her  wishes  were 
acceded  to,  and  as  far  as  is  known,  this  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Prayer  movement  in  this  city. 

About  this  time  an  invitation  was  given  in  the  Bible 
class,  by  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Wilder,  to  an  afternoon  prayer- 
meeting. Most  of  the  members  accepted.  There 
came  a bestowal  of  power  in  answer  to  prayer  in 
larger  measure  than  they  had  ever  realized.  At  times 
the  Spirit’s  manifestations  seemed  almost  to  break 
their  hearts,  and  found  vent  in  tears  ; again  they  were 
exultant  with  the  Mad  tidings  of  deliverance. 

o o 

M iss  Hamilton  was  deeply  impressed  with  this  pas- 
sage of  Scripture;  “Ye  shall  not  need  to  fight.” 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


545 


On  the  30th  of  January,  an  all-day  prayer-meeting- 
was  held  in  the  “ church  on  the  heights,”  by  the  ladies’ 
union  prayer-meeting,  which  was  brought  into  exist- 
ence by  a mother  in  Israel,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Merrill,  who 
became  one  of  the  most  faithful  supporters  of  the 
work,  and  who  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her. 
The  meeting  was  one  of  spiritual  power.  The  chrism 
of  the  Spirit  fell  upon  many,  who  afterwards  became 
workers.  The  voice  said : “ Cry,”  and  souls  replied : 
“What  shall  I cry?”  It  was  like  children  stretching 
out  their  hands  for  a blessing,  not  knowing  what  they 
wanted. 

During  the  month  of  February,  1874,  renewed  ac- 
tivities began  in  an  old  temperance  society,  of  which 
a number  of  the  ladies  were  members.  In  one  of 
these  meetings,  held  March  13th,  as  time  was  being 
consumed  in  passing  resolutions,  etc.,  Mrs.  Ladd  arose 
and  expressed  the  wish  of  most  of  the  ladies  present, 
to  organize  a union  for  the  purpose  of  prayer.  Nearly 
all  the  ladies  retired  to  an  upper  room.  A glorious 
prayer-meeting  followed.  The  presence  of  the  Spirit 
was  manifested.  The  two  hours  spent  together  proved 
to  be  a Pentecostal  season,  and  faith  claimed  the 
promise,  when  Miss  Hamilton  voluntarily  read  from  2 
Chron.  XX.  15,  16,  17:  “Be  not  afraid,  or  dismayed  by 
reason  of  this  great  multitude ; for  the  battle  is  not 
yours,  but  God’s.  . . . Ye  need  not  to  fight  in 

this  battle;  set  yourselves,  stand  ye  still,  and  see  the 
salvation  of  the  Lord  with  you.  Fear  not,  nor  be 
dismayed;  to-morrow  go  ye  out  against  them,  for  the 
Lord  will  be  with  you.” 

35 


546 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


The  next  day  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Conk- 
ling  called  upon  the  officers  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  who 
placed  their  handsome  rooms  at  the  disposal  of  the 
ladies,  and  they  have  held  their  daily  meetings  there, 
through  all  these  months  and  years.  On  Monday,  iMarch 
1 6th,  1 874,  the  first  meeting  of  the  Christian  Temperance 
Union  was  held  ; hundreds  of  earnest  men  and  women 
attended,  and  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Johnson,  who  was  chosen 
the  leader,  presented  the  seven  “ Fear  Nots  ” of  Isaiah, 
41,  43,  44,  which  became  the  watchword  of  the  society. 

From  this  little  beginning,  smaller,  indeed,  than  a 
mustard  seed,  has  sprung  a goodly  tree,  under  whose 
shadow  many  weary  and  tempted  ones  have  found 
rest.  At  the  daily  meetings  requests  for  prayer  were 
presented ; some  of  them  coming  by  letter  long  dis- 
tances ; and  as  the  work  has  gone  on,  this  prayer- 
circle  has  extended  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
wmrld.  Requests  coming  even  from  Australia,  where 
the  influence  of  this  meeting  has  been  felt,  and  led  to 
the  formation  of  two  temperance  prayer-meetings. 

Perhaps  the  most  touching  request  for  prayer  re- 
ceived was  from  a mother,  beseeching  prayer  for  nine 
sons,  all  intemperate. 

During  the  first  week  of  the  meeting,  the  following 
remarkable  message,  telegraphed  to  the  New  York 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  was  read  by  a gentleman 

present.  “Cincinnati,  12.25  i’- 

“Provisions  stronger — unchanged.  The  women 
Crusaders  are  singing  and  praying  so  loudly  and 
earnestly  in  the  saloon  next  to  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, that  business  is  quite  demoralized  at  this  hour.” 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


547 


This  despatch  created  great  enthusiasm.  In  re- 
sponse to  a call  for  workers,  large  numbers  volun- 
teered to  go  forth  to  the  druggists,  licensed  grocers, 
and  saloon-keepers.  A prominent  saloon-keeper  sent 
an  invitation  for  the  ladies  to  visit  him,  and  hold  a 
Sabbath  evening  prayer-meeting  at  his  saloon.  The 
invitation  was  accepted,  and  twelve  ladies  were  ap- 
pointed to  attend  the  meeting.  Promptly  at  seven 
o’clock  the  ladies  were  at  Mr.  Myers’  saloon.  Fully 
three  thousand  men  gathered  into  the  saloon,  and 
about  the  doors,  and  in  the  street,  to  see  and  hear  the 
ladies,  whose  zeal  and  courage  had  prompted  them  to 
such  singular  service  in  the  cause  of  temperance.  The 
gathering  was  composed  almost  exclusively  of  young 
men.  Mrs.  Chace,  who  had  a singularly  rich  and 
attractive  voice,  sung. 

There  is  a gate  that  stands  ajar.” 

Prayers  and  hymns  followed,  and  the  Word  was  read 
to  an  attentive  audience  ; and  yet  there  were  those  in 
that  motley  throng  who  came  to  jest.  A spirit  of 
solemnity  pervaded  the  meeting ; numbers  signed  the 
pledge ; and  God  graciously  set  his  seal  of  approval 
upon  the  effort.  Thirteen  conversions  resulted,  and 
the  liquor-dealer  in  a few  days  voluntarily  placed  the 
keys  of  his  saloon  in  the  hands  of  the  ladies,  and  it  was 
afterwards  opened  as  a temperance  restaurant. 

Sabbath  evening  saloon  meetings  followed,  and  from 
this  time  the  call  of  God  to  the  Union  to  visit  the 
saloons,  was  gladly  acknowledged ; and  it  has  indeed 
been  the  one  secret  of  the  deeply  spiritual  character 


548 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


of  the  work,  and  of  the  harvest  of  souls  which  has 
resulted. 

During  the  first  month,  the  number  of  young  men 
attending  the  three  o’clock  meeting  became  so  large 
that  Mrs.  F.  E.  Thomas  and  Miss  Annie  J.  Ludlow 
were  led  to  invite  them  to  a meeting  for  personal 
conversation  and  prayer.  This  led  to  a second  daily 
prayer-meeting,  from  five  to  six  o’clock,  which  is  still 
continued.  The  room  was  filled  nightly  with  the 
same  changing  class,  from  the  jails  and  saloons,  the 
gutter  and  the  homes  of  wealth,  all  bitten  by  this 
serpent  of  sin,  intemperance  ; and  not  a few  have  been 
led  to  look  at  the  crucified  One  and  live. 

During  the  year  1875,  i>325  arose  for  prayers. 
Among  the  number  of  thrilling  histories,  but  one  can 
be  given  ; A man  under  the  influence  of  liquor  found 
his  way  Into  the  room,  and  slept  until  evening  on  one 
of  the  settees.  At  the  opening  of  the  meeting,  he  left 
the  room,  but  reappeared  at  the  close,  and  in  a voice 
husky  with  emotion,  said,  “ I have  not  gone ; some- 
thing has  held  me.  I have  been  behind  the  door,  and 
have  heard  all  that  has  been  said.  Oh,  If  there  is  any 
hope,  pray  for  me.”  A few  gathered  around  him  in 
prayer.  His  sad  story  was  this  : The  son  and  grand- 
son of  a clergyman,  a graduate  of  a theological  semi- 
nary, he  had  given  up  his  studies  because  of  failing 
health,  entered  business,  taken  the  first  social  glass, 
which  in  time  resulted  in  his  becoming  a helpless 
victim,  and  a living  sorrow  to  his  wife  and  four  little 
ones.  The  pledge  was  offered,  and  with  trembling 
hand  he  signed  it  for  three  months  only,  and  left  us. 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


549 


At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  pledge  was  returned, 
and  on  it  these  words,  “ By  God’s  help  I have  kept  this 
pledge,  and  now  renew  it  for  all  eternity.  I have  also 
found  Christ  as  my  Saviour.” 

The  jails  were  visited ; meetings  held  on  ship- 
board, in  private  houses,  Naval  Chapel,  Naval  Hos- 
pital, the  Inebriate  Asylum,  the  Penitentiary,  and  Sab- 
bath meetings  at  Fort  Hamilton.  Miss  Beatty  also  held 
a meeting  at  her  residence,  and  Mrs.  Chace,  for  young 
men ; and  the  wife  of  a city  alderman  was  led  by  a 
remarkable  providence  into  a blessed  work  among  a 
reckless  class  of  young  men. 

The  President  of  the  Union,  accompanied  by  a lady 
of  each  of  the  denominations,  visited  and  addressed  the 
New  York  East  Conference,  Ministerial  Union,  and 
the  Baptist  Union  of  Ministers.  She  also,  accompanied 
by  Mrs.  Alderman  Richardson,  visited  the  Roman 
Catholic  Bishop  Laughlin,  who  gave  them  respectful 
hearing,  and  made  special  inquiries  as  to  the  number 
of  children  they  found  in  the  saloons.  They  were 
cordially  received  by  all,  and  earnest,  favorable  re- 
sponses given. 

When  the  Brooklyn  Union  was  organized,  only  a 
few  churches  could  be  found,  whose  doors  were  open 
to  Christian  women  who  came  in  the  interests  of  gos- 
pel temperance,  but  now  the  majority  of  Protestant 
churches  are  open  to  them.  The  temperance  senti- 
ment among  church-going  people  has  been  greatly 
increased,  and  as  an  outgrowth  of  the  Union,  a Tem- 
perance Brotherhood  has  been  formed,  which  has  done 
a glorious  work  on  the  legal  line.  A flourishing  juve- 


550 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


nile  society  has  been  organized,  and  well  sustained. 
A restaurant  and  friendly  inn  was  opened  in  the  first 
saloon  that  surrendered,  and  has  formed  an  important 
part  of  the  work. 

For  the  means  to  carry  forward  their  great  work, 
they  have  looked  to  Him  in  whose  hands  is  the  silver 
and  the  gold,  and  during  these  years  they  have  re- 
ceived and  expended  ^7,739.24. 

The  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  temperance 
restaurants  one  year  was  ^13,021.69,  and  5,000  free 
meals  and  lodgings  given. 

A Reform  Club  has  been  organized,  and  those  who 
remained  in  Brooklyn  gathered  into  churches,  but  many 
of  the  men,  especially  the  sailors  and  officers  of  vessels, 
have  gone  to  other  lands.  Most  encouraging  letters 
have  been  received  from  the  Pacific  coast,  from  Yoko- 
hama, Japan,  and  other  distant  points. 

The  untiringf  and  successful  labors  in  the  leg-al  work 

o o 

of  Captain  Oliver  Cotter,  a converted  saloon-keeper, 
who  gave  up  his  business,  and  has  been  laboring  for 
the  Master,  has  resulted  in  great  good.  He  was  one 
of  their  first  trophies,  and  has  greatly  helped  on  the 
work.  When  the  Union  was  organized,  March,  1874, 
there  were  3,110  saloons  in  this  city,  and  their  doors 
were  open  on  the  Sabbath  day,  bidding  defiance  to  the 
Sunbay  closing  law  as  well  as  to  the  sacred  day.  An 
official  statement,  published  after  three  months  of  prayer 
and  labor,  showed  that  180  of  these  had  been  closed — 
twenty-one  being  closed  through  their  direct  in- 
fluence in  three  weeks.  At  the  expiration  ot  three 
years,  one-Jialf  of  t]ie  saloons  were  closed,  and  there 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


551 


was  no  open  selling  on  the  Sabbath  day.  The  arrests 
for  drunkenness  in  1875  were  6,810  less  than  during 
the  year  1874. 

It  is  a matter  of  special  thanksgiving  to  God  that 
every  saloon,  without  exception,  in  which  the  ladies 
held  saloon  prayer-meetings,  is  closed,  and  the  buildings 
devoted  to  other  purposes.  Many  property-holders  now 
refuse  to  rent  their  buildings  for  such  uses.  A liquor- 
dealer  recently  said : “ The  trade  will  never  revive  until 
these  crazy  women  cease  their  persecutions.” 

The  work  cannot  be  put  into  numerical  figures.  An 
army  of  voices  has  joined  in  the  great  song  of  redemp- 
tion ; broken  homes  have  been  restored ; the  morning 
of  joy  has  come  to  many  a night-weeping  mother; 
women  have  had  their  dead  raised ; and  the  laborers 
themselves  have  seen  higher  and  deeper  into  the 
wonders  of  a wonder-workinsf  God.  Friends  are 
numerous;  pastors  and  churches  are  now  allies  ; public 
sentiment  gaining ; saloons  and  institutions  open  for 
work;  the  enemy  trembling;  and  above  all,  the  hand 
of  God  is  visible  in  the  battle. 

The  death-angel  has  come  to  one  of  our  most  gifted 
and  earnest  workers,  Mrs.  Flannah  E.  Chace.  One  who 
sat  beside  her  in  her  last  hours  writes,  “she  hoped  till 
the  very  last  that  she  might  be  allowed  to  work  again 
for  the  Master.  Her  soul  was  filled  with  love : ‘ I 
love  you  all — everybody;'  she  said.  After  a season  of 
prayer,  in  which  we  had  earnestly  plead  with  God  to 
prolong  her  life,  she  looked  earnestly  into  my  face, 
saying:  ‘What  does  He  say?’  I answered,  ‘Forever 
with  the  Lord.’  With  a sweet  smile  she  responded : 


552 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


‘ Thy  will  be  done.’  In  giving  directions  for  her  funeral, 
she  asked  that  ‘ Forever  with  the  Lord’  miehtbe  suns'.” 
• The  officers  and  earnest  workers  of  this  Union  were: 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Johnson ; Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Ladd ; hlrs. 
Mary  E.  Llartt;  Miss  Albina  Hamilton;  Mrs.  J.  Bow- 
man ; Mrs.  S.  A.  Merrill ; Mrs.  L.  D.  Oakley ; IMrs. 
R.  L.  Wycoff;  Mrs.  E.  Squires ; hlrs.  H.  B.  Spellman  ; 
Mrs.  K.  E.  Cleveland  ; Mrs.  Bayless ; Mrs.  E.  E.  Conk- 
lin ; Tvlrs.  Wilder ; IMrs.  Watson ; Mrs.  Field ; Mrs. 
Thomas;  Miss  Ludlow;  Mrs.  Duncklee;  Mrs.  Allen; 
Mrs.  Blakely;  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Hawkes  (author  of  “I 
need  Thee  every  hour”);  Miss  Lizzie  Green;  IMrs. 
Marinor;  Mrs.  Harmon;  Mrs.  Stout;  IMrs.  Philip  Phil- 
lips; Mrs.  Holman;  Mrs.  Crocker;  Mrs.  Tremaine; 
Mrs.  Reynolds  ; IMrs.  Goodrich  ; IMrs.  Richardson;  IMrs. 
Thorn;  Mrs.  Acker;  Mrs.  Dr.  Bond;  Mrs.  Swanson  ; 
Mrs.  Bartlett ; Mrs.  Alford  ; IMrs.  Grifhng ; IMrs.  Hig- 
ley;  Mrs.  Tate;  IMrs.  Hemmenway;  Mrs.  Hutchins; 
Mrs.  Ressique;  Mrs.  Dickinson;  Mrs.  Trask;  Mrs. 
Langford  Palmer ; Mrs.  Tilney  ; IMiss  M.  E.  Winslow ; 
Miss  Meacham  ; Miss  Meserole  ; Miss  Greenwood  ; 
Miss  Slack;  Mrs.  Eyer;  Mrs.  C.  F.  Ketchum ; Mrs. 
H.  B.  Jackson;  Mrs.  T.  W.  Eadd. 

In  the  year  1876,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Johnson,  the  efficient 
and  talented  President  of  the  Brooklyn  Union,  visited 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  spent  six  months  in  suc- 
cessful work  in  drawing-room  and  public  meetings. 
Her  efforts  to  help  forward  the  cause  of  gospel  tem- 
perance were  richly  blest.  She  addressed  during  her 
absence  121  audiences,  and  conducted  forty-one  prayer- 
meetings.  Her  work  w^as  chiefly  among  the  upper 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


553 


classes,  and  her  drawing-room  and  lawn  meetings  were 
attended  largely  by  the  nobility.  Mrs.  Johnson,  who 
is  a cultured  Christian  lady,  was  received  everywhere 
with  great  attention,  and  the  American  women  have 
reason  to  be  proud  of  her  record  abroad,  and  the 
National  Union  that  one  of  her  officers  so  ably  repre- 
sented her  in  the  higher  circles  of  Great  Britain. 

By  special  request  of  the  writer  of  these  pages.  Cap- 
tain Oliver  Cotter  has  written  out  the  following  history 
of  his  conversion,  and  his  legal  work  : 

CAPTAIN  OLIVER  COTTER’S  CONVERSION  AND  WORK. 

On  Thursday  afternoon,  April  12th,  1874,  Mrs.  A. 
Wilder  and  Mrs.  Richardson,  of  the  Ladies’  Union, 
first  called  on  me,  and  found  me  in  my  saloon,  behind 
the  bar.  The  barkeeper  and  several  gentlemen  were 
present.  I was  in  the  act  of  drinking  liquor  with  the 
gentlemen  present.  These  two  agents  of  Christ  In- 
quired for  the  proprietor.  I responded.  They  said: 
“ My  bi^otJier,  we  have  called  on  you  to  inquire  and  to 
talk  to  you  about  your  soul’s  salvation,  and  about  this 
business  are  inr 

I immediately  quit  my  company,  and  invited  them 
Into  the  reading-room  attached  to  the  saloon,  and  en- 
tered into  conversation  relative  to  my  business.  It 
was  then  a novel  and  rare  thing  to  hear  and  see  two 
such  fine,  respectable,  highly-cultured  ladles,  strangers 
then  to  me,  take  such  a deep  interest  in  me,  and  par- 
ticularly in  my  soul’s  salvation,  that  word  my  brother 
still  coming  from  their  lips  every  time  they  addressed 
me.  For  over  an  hour  they  remained  in  that  reading- 


554 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN, 


room,  and  before  leaving  both  of  them  knelt  in  prayer. 
I felt  then,  for  the  first  time,  that  I was  a sinner,  and 
needed  God’s  forgiveness,  and  that  I was  in  a bad  busi- 
ness, and  that  for  seven  years  I had  been  making  drunk- 
ards by  law,  and  was  blind  to  the  sin  and  iniquity  I was 
every  day  heaping  on  my  soul ; for  I was  running 
five  dififereiit  saloons,  four  in  Brooklyn,  and  one  in  New 
York;  was  the  Secretary  of  King’s  County  (Brook- 
lyn) Liquor-Dealers’  Society — 2,500  strong,  with  $10,- 
000  in  our  treasury,  to  work  for  the  devil.  Was 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee,  and  stood  high 
among  my  friends  in  the  trade.  For  six  years  I worked 
faithfully  for  Satan,  as  the  secretary.  On  Friday,  the 
13th,  two  other  ladies  called  on  me,  same  saloon,  358 
Fulton  street,  Brooklyn,  and  again  pleaded  with  me  by 
exhortation  and  in  prayer.  Same,  on  14th,  Saturday. 
It  was  then  I broke  down,  and  gave  my  consent  for  a 
saloon  prayer-meeting,  next  evening,  Sunday,  April 
15th,  1874,  which  commenced  in  the  reading-room 
of  the  saloon,  seven  and  a-half  p.  m.,  and  ended  at 
eleven  o’clock,  nine  of  my  customers  and  myself  being 
present.  Ten  Christian  women  marched  in,  two  by 
^ two,  as  the  disciples  of  old  went  out,  and  commenced 
the  services  with  the  hymn,  “Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee.” 
W e all  signed  the  pledge,  relying  on  God  to  help  us 
keep  it.  The  whole  of  us  were  soundly  converted, 
and  all  of  us  are  to-day  living  evidence  of  God’s 
goodness.  Not  one  of  us  has  fallen,  but  have  grown 
in  grace.  So  you  see  that  each  Christian  woman  had 
a trophy ; ten  came,  and  ten  were  converted,  the  liquor- 
dealer  and  his  customers.  All  are  working  for  the 


CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN. 


555 


Master.  It  was  a powerful  meeting;  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  there  in  great  power.  The  saloon  was  closed, 
never  again  to  be  opened.  Not  sold  out;  no,  no. 
That  would  be  compromising  with  God.  I never  could 
do  that.  I destroyed  all  the  liquors  I had,  and  counted 
my  redemption  good  pay  for  the  loss  of  the  hlthy  stuff 
And  I now  thank  God  for  a Union  of  Christian  women 
in  Brooklyn,  through  whose  instrumentality  I was 
saved  and  cleansed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb — clothed, 
and  in  my  right  mind. 

Persecutions  then  awaited  me  from  all  sides — friends 
and  foes.  The  devil  commenced ; the  society,  of  which 
I was  an  honored  officer  for  six  years,  commenced ; 
the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor-dealers  commenced ; 
my  house,  that  cost  me  ^9,000,  I lost ; large  amounts 
were  offered,  my  house  to  be  given  me  back,  if  I would 
resume  the  business  again,  but  I would  not  give  in; 
my  brother  turned  against  me,  and  said  I ought  to  go 
to  the  poor-house.  My  time  won’t  here  permit  me  to 
go  into  detail  of  what  I suffered.  God’s  grace  was 
sufficient  to  keep  me  through  it  all.  I put  my  hand  to 
the  plough — He  kept  me  from  looking  back.  Glory 
be  to  His  holy  name  ! 

Being  left  almost  penniless,  and  not  willing  to  take 
anything  from  any  one,  only  what  I could  earn  by  the 
sweat  of  my  brow,  I set  out  for  New  York  city,  re- 
lying on  God  and  trusting  Him.  I found  an  humble 
situation  in  a mercantile  house.  When  asked  for  my 
reference  I told  the  merchant  (who  I found  afterwards 
was  a Christian  man)  that  he  must  take  me  just  as  I 
was,  gave  my  history,  etc.;  he  took  me  by  the  hand 


55^5  CRUSADE  AT  BROOKLYN, 

and  engaged  me.  I was  six  months  in  his  employ, 
when  I was  called  through  him  and  others  who  are 
now  with  me,  all  members  of  the  same  church  (Dr. 
Budington’s),  into  the  legal  work,  the  history  of  which 
would  fill  several  volumes.  At  this  time  I cannot  go 
into  a full  detail  of  the  work  which  God  has  done 
through  me,  in  Brooklyn  and  elsewhere.  Suffice  it 
for  me  to  say,  when  I commenced  the  work  here,  in 
1874,  we  had  3,110  saloons,  now  we  have  less  than 
1,500,  still  getting  less;  the  Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  has  helped  also. 

I have  been  in  the  States  of  Connecticut,  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  District 
of  Columbia;  also  in  over  150  cities,  and  villages,  and 
towns  in  New  York,  Connecticut,  and  New  Jersey; 
and  have  inaug-urated  the  legal  work  and  addressed 
meetings,  besides  a large  amount  of  correspondence 
— all  this  in  the  past  three  years. 

I was  President  of  a Reform  Club  for  two  years; 
have  organized  Reform  Clubs  on  the  gospel  plan  in 
other  places,  all  of  which  has  been  for  the  honor  and 
glory  of  God.  I never  had  a day’s  sickness;  never 
was  better  in  my  life,  spiritually  and  temporally.  The 
Lord  provides  and  gives  me  more  than  I ask  for.  ]\Iy 
faith  is  in  my  Redeemer;  His  grace  has  kept  me.  I 
rely  not  on  man,  but  on  God’s  precious  promises.  I 
believe  them  all;  I trust  God  for  everything.  The 
legal  work  and  the  gospel  work  go  together.  God  has 
blessed  me  abundantly  in  the  work;  and  I know  he 
has  called  me  into  this  kind  of  work,  I would  have 
been  murdered  long  since  if  the  work  had  been  of 


CRUJADE  AT  BINGHAMPTON. 


557 


myself;  therefore,  I know  it  is  His  work.  How  sweet  the 
knowledge  I have  derived  from  the  many  hair-breadth 
escapes  I have  had  from  the  cursed  liquor  traffic, 
and  the  enemy  of  Christ  and  His  work,  who  oftentimes 
assailed  me.  Divine  Providence  protected  me;  there- 
fore, I always  go  out  in  His  name,  and  for  Him,  and 
Him  only,  so  that  He  should  get  all  the  honor  and 
glory. 

BINGHAMPTON,  NEW  YORK. 

I gather  the  following  facts  from  the  report  of  Mrs. 
H.  Morris,  Secretary; 

Our  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  in  the  spring  of  1874.  The  first  meetings 
for  prayer  and  consultation  were  fully  attended,  and 
with  it  praise  went  up  to  God  for  His  blessing  on  the 
Temperance  Crusade.  We  felt  that  God  was  present 
by  His  Spirit,  inditing  our  prayers  and  efforts.  Our 
inquiry  was,  “Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  us  to  do?” 

A special  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  observed. 
Our  sisters  met  together  in  one  place;  and  every  hour 
had  its  separate  leader  through  the  day.  A large 
number  present  pledged  themselves  before  God  to  a 
life-work  in  the  temperance  cause.  This  spirit  has 
animated  our  Union  ever  since. 

The  first  year  of  our  work  the  drug  stores,  saloons, 
and  other  places  were  visited,  and  urgent  appeals 
were  made,  to  induce  the  occupants  to  desist  from 
selling  intoxicating  liquors  as  a beverage.  The  drug- 
gists uniformly  denied  that  they  sold  the  article  ex- 
cept for  mechanical  and  medicinal  purposes,  and  were 
all  ready  to  sign  the  pledge. 


558 


CRUSADE  AT  BINGHAMPTON. 


A committee  from  our  Union  have  visited  the  Board 
of  Excise  several  times,  and  presented  a petition  from 
1,300  of  our  citizens  to  grant  no  licenses.  All  the 
inducements  that  could  be  presented  to  them  in  the 
most  solemn  manner,  drawn  from  three  worlds,  seemed 
to  have  but  little  weight  upon  them. 

Our  Union  has  met  for  prayer  many  times,  feeling 
that  no  earthly  arm  could  save  us,  and  that  God’s 
strength  must  be  extended.  He  alone  could  save.  And 

o 

in  answer  to  our  prayers,  Mr.  Robinson  came,  held 
meetings,  and  labored  personally,  with  great  success. 
Some  five  thousand  pledges  were  taken,  and  the  good 
work  has  been  going  on  ever  since.  Mass-meetings 
have  been  held  two  and  three  times  a week. 

At  the  request  of  some  of  the  reformed  men,  a 
religious  evening  meeting  has  been  kept  up  by  our 
Union.  They  feel  and  know  that  Jesus  can  alone  save 
them  from  everlasting  ruin,  and  they  are  trying  to  lead 
Christian  lives,  and  are  doing  all  they  can  to  bring 
their  associates  to  temperance  and  to  Christ.  So  that 
this  work  is  a religious  one — a gospel  revival.  Souls, 
that  were  fast  sinking  into  the  drunkard’s  grave,  are 
now  redeemed,  and  a new  song  put  into  their  mouths, 
even  praise  to  their  Redeemer.  Towns  all  around  us 
are  participating  in  this  great  movement,  and  are  send- 
ing to  Binghampton  for  speakers. 

A juvenile  temperance  society,  a young  men’s  tem- 
perance union,  and  a young  ladies’  blue  ribbon  society 
are  amono-  the  outgrowths  of  the  Woman’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union.  The  blessed  Lord  has  indeed 
heard  our  prayers.  We  need  more  faith,  more  earnest 


CRUSADE  AT  POUGHKEEPSIE. 


559 


workers,  and  more  of  the  blessing  of  God,  for  the  war- 
fare against  intemperance  in  this  place.  But  we  rejoice 
and  bless  God  that  He  has  so  wonderfully  visited  us  in 
mercy  and  love,  and  that  He  has  shown  to  those  who 
profess  not  His  name  that  this  is  His  work,  and  He  is 
mighty  to  save. 

POUGHKEEPSIE,  NEW  YORK. 

We  glean  the  following  facts  from  a report  sent  by 
Maria  A.  Wiley ; 

In  response  to  the  invitation  given  through  the  daily 
papers,  a large  audience  assembled  at  Temperance 
Hall  on  Tuesday  evening,  April  7th,  1874.  Mrs. 
Deyo,  of  Dutchess  county,  addressed  the  meeting, 
stating  the  object  of  the  movement,  which  was  to  help 
the  rum-seller  out  of  his  evil  business.  There  were 
ministersand  representatives  fromall  the  denominations 
present,  and  favorable  to  the  movement,  and  the  Lord 
was  evidently  with  us  in  this  beginningof  our  action. 

A letter  was  read  from  Messrs.  Brown  & Doty, 
druggists,  stating  they  were  willing  to  pledge  them- 
selves to  sell  no  liquor  except  on  physicians’  prescrip- 
tions, and  for  medicinal  purposes. 

An  invitation  was  given  to  the  women  present,  who 
were  willing  to  begin  this  movement,  to  signify  it  by 
rising.  Seventy-five  arose ; and  notice  was  given 
that  a woman’s  prayer-meeting  would  be  held  in  the 
chapel  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  three  o’clock, 
on  the  following  day.  Sixty-five  women  were  present  at 
the  meeting  next  day.  The  meeting  was  one  of  deep 
solemnity  and  heart-searching.  We  consecrated  our- 


560  CRUSADE  AT  POUGHKEEPSIE. 

selves  to  the  work  in  response  to  a question  proposed 
by  our  leader,  “Are  we  ready  for  anything?” 

Another  large  meeting  was  held  in  the  evening. 
The  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit.  Large  mass-meetings 
continued  to  be  held  in  the  churches  each  evening. 

o 

Encouraging  reports  were  made.  Committees  were 
appointed  to  visit  property-holders,  drug  stores, 
groceries,  and  hotels,  asking  them  not  to  rent  their 
property  as  saloons,  or  sell  intoxicating  drinks.  A 
petition  to  the  Board  of  Excise  was  also  circulated, 
that  the  license  be  hereafter  withheld  from  the  one 
hundred  saloons,  that  were  such  a curse  to  the  city. 
Notice  was  sent  us  of  the  voluntary  surrender  of  some 
of  the  liquor-dealers.  The  first  from  George  ]M. 
Erazier,  61  Main  street,  wherein  he  states,  in  a letter 
which  was  read  at  one  of  our  public  meetings,  that  in 
five  years  he  had  been  ruined  by  selling  rum,  and 
intended  to  discontinue  the  business.  He  also  inserted 
the  following  notice  in  the  daily  papers : 

''Anticipating  the  Ladies  Crusade,  the  undersigned 
surrenders  without  a call.  Hereafter  the  Mansion 
House,  61  Main  street,  will  be  conducted  on  the 
temperance  plan.  We  offer  first-class  accommoda- 
tions to  both  custom  and  transient  boarders.  Meals 
furnished  at  any  time.  G.  M.  Erazier.” 

An  impressive  incident  occurred  about  this  time. 
William  St.  John,  proprietor  of  the  Exchange  Hotel, 
sent  in  a letter,  which  was  read  at  our  fifth  mass- 
meeting, April  nth,  wherein  he  announced  he  had 
given  up  selling  liquor,  and  would  never,  never  enter 


CRUSADE  AT  POUGHKEEPSIE. 


561 


the  business  again ; that  he  believed  it  to  be  wrong, 
and  was  doing  much  evil.  He  was  taken  sick  soon 
after,  and  died  the  1 7th  of  April. 

The  Catholic  priest  sent  us  a letter  of  encourage- 
ment, saying  his  heart  and  prayers  were  with  the 
movement ; he  was  willing  to  be  present  at  a meeting, 
on  neutral  grounds. 

The  committee  of  fifty  ladies,  who  had  been  can- 
vassing the  city  with  petitions  to  be  presented  to  the 
Board  of  Excise,  completed  their  work  by  April  29th. 
The  total  number  of  signatures  of  citizens  and  real 
estate  owners  was  3,966 ; of  property-holders  alone, 
867.  A large  number  of  signers  to  the  total  abstinence 
pledge  was  obtained  at  the  same  time;  149  signed  it 
in  the  White  House  shoe  factory. 

Some  who  had  rented  their  buildings  for  liquor- 
selling agreed  not  to  rent  them  for  that  purpose  again. 
Appeals  to  mayor  and  common  council  were  pre- 
sented by  a committee  of  ladies,  asking  for  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquors  on 
Sunday,  and  to  minors.  But  this  was  discouraging 
work,  for  we  found  the  Excise  Board  had  no  regard 
for  our  petitions,  for  they  granted  130  licenses  in  June, 
that  year.  Some  had  delayed  applying  for  license 
until  they  knew  the  result  of  the  appeals  to  the  Excise 
Board,  and  the  limits  of  the  power  of  that  body.  State- 
ments had  been  made  to  the  Excise  Board  and  common 
council  of  the  violation  of  the  excise  law;  but  they 
were  in  some  instances  evaded,  and  in  others  treated 
with  an  indifference  which  left  the  impression  that  the 
laws  would  not  be  enforced;  but  we  had  pledged  our- 


562 


CRUSADE  AT  POUGHKEEPSIE. 


selves  for  life  to  the  work,  and  no  one  felt  inclined  to 
give  it  up. 

W e visited  the  poor  drunkards’  families,  and  from 
there  we  went  to  the  saloons  that  had  the  lesfal  riuht 
to  make  them  such. 

In  most  places  the  ladies  were  treated  respectfully. 
They  went  in  companies  of  two  or  three,  and  gener- 
ally called  on  the  family  first,  or  on  the  proprietor  at 
his  home, — in  some  cases,  only  one  called, — and  by 
gentle,  friendly  remonstrances,  many  promises  were 
made  of  reformation.  Some  promised  to  leave  the 
business  if  other  occupation  could  be  furnished  them. 
We  were  rewarded  for  a time  by  seeing  some  saloons 
closed  on  Sundays.  A few  voluntarily  abandoned 
the  business,  and  others  were  persuaded,  and  now, 
after  three  years,  have  not  broken  their  promise.  But 
very  few  had  the  moral  principle  to  abandon  a busi- 
ness which  was  sanctioned  and  encouraged  by  the 
law,  and  our  only  alternative  was  to  work  on  diligently 
in  the  line  of  moral  suasion,  trusting  in  the  Lord. 

Forty-three  saloons  were  visited  during  the  summer 
and  fall,  but  all  in  a quiet  way.  The  temperance 
pledge  was  circulated  in  Sunday-schools,  factories,  and 
on  Bible  and  tract  districts,  and  hundreds  of  names 
obtained. 

Several  ministers,  one  of  them  the  Roman  Catholic 
priest,  and  other  gentlemen  of  influence,  met  with  the 
executive  board  again  on  May  9th,  to  give  counsel  as 
to  the  most  effective  measures  to  carry  out  our  purpose. 

The  petitions  had  been  presented  by  a committee 
of  twelve  ladies,  on  May  4th,  5th,  and  6th.  They  were 


CRUSADE  AT  GENEVA.  563 

politely  received,  but  no  encouragement  given  of  their 
aid  in  the  temperance  work. 

Two  Friendly  Inns  were  established.  Some  of  the 
most  forlorn  and  ragged  boys  who  were  cared  for,  and 
for  whom  we  found  employment,  walk  our  streets  to- 
day well  clothed,  and  industrious  members  of  society. 

Seven  Sunday-school  temperance  societies  were 
organized  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1875,  auxiliary 
to  the  Woman’s  Temperance  Society.  A juvenile 
temperance  union  was  organized,  November,  1876; 
number  of  children  on  roll-book,  160,  though  we  have 
had  as  many  as  200  at  one  meeting.  On  the  30th  of 
August  we  treated  the  children  to  a picnic.  We  went 
to  a beautiful  grove,  just  south  of  the  city,  and  spent 
the  day  very  pleasantly,  many  of  the  parents  of  the 
little  ones  accompanying  them. 

GENEVA,  NEW  YORK. 

The  Society  reports  the  following: 

The  Geneva  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union 
was  organized  April  2 2d,  18  74,  with  twenty-six  members. 
Of  the  original  number  twenty  remain  ; present  num- 
ber, fifty-two.  Became  auxiliary  to  the  State  Union, 
September  30th,  1875. 

Our  work  for  the  three  years  has  not  been  Western 
Crusade  work,  but  trying  to  create  public  opinion  in 
favor  of  temperance;  using  our  influence  against 
license  and  for  prohibition,  distributing  temperance 
tracts  and  papers,  holding  mass-meetings,  and  inviting 
temperance  lecturers,  as  our  means  allowed;  sus- 
taining without  fail  one  weekly  prayer-meeting,  and 


564 


CRUSADE  AT  GENEVA. 


for  a time  two — both  still  continue ; occasionally  dis- 
tributing temperance  literature  in  saloons  and  hotels ; 
laboring  with  individuals  and  families  of  drunkards. 
All  this  time  working  and  praying  with  no  apparent 
success,  “hoping  against  hope,”  but  with  never  failing 
faith  in  our  faithful  God,  believing  firmly  that  He  would 
yet  answer  our  prayers,  and  make  our  work  apparent. 
At  last  the  answer  came.  The  reform  movement  with 
us  was  the  culmination  of  all  these  years  of  work  and 
prayers. 

As  God  caused  the  “Western  Crusade”  to  be  the 
great  lever  to  “ open  the  door  which  no  man  can 
shut,”  and  thereby  inaugurating  the  great  temperance 
movement  not  only  all  over  our  own  land,  but  through- 
out Christendom,  so  I believe  this  reform  work  is 
but  another  door  opened  to  still  greater  work,  setting 
forever  at  rest  the  question,  Can  drunkards  be  re- 
formed ? and  also,  Will  temperance  principles  finally 
triumph  ? involving  in  it,  as  it  does,  the  same  glorious 
principles  of  the  gospel  and  temperance  combined. 

About  six  months  since  a Reform  Club  was  organ- 
ized, numbering  now  about  200,  many  of  whom  have 
come  from  the  lowest  depths.  A few  have  been  con- 
verted, but  we  are  looking  and  laboring  for  the  salva- 
tion of  them  all.  Over  2,000  have  signed  the  pledge 
during  that  time,  many  of  them  youths  and  children. 

We  have  two  beautiful  club-rooms,  furnished  nicely; 
have  quite  a library  already,  and  papers  and  innocent 
games.  These  are  a continued  resort  for  many  who 
would  otherwise  visit  saloons.  Already  the  damage 
to  saloons  is  estimated  to  be  a hundred  dollars  per 


CRUSADE  AT  PEEKSKILL.  565 

night.  One  saloon-keeper  remarked,  “he  did  not 
know  whether  it  was  the  blue  ribbon  or  hard  times, 
but  something  affected  his  business.” 

Our  work  is  now  almost  exclusively  through  this 
channel,  assisting  families,  and  contributing  in  many 
ways  to  their  welfare.  We  gave  them  and  their  fami- 
lies a dinner  on  the  4th  of  July,  a scene  which  had 
never  been  witnessed  in  this  place  before.  Truly  it 
was  a dinner  on  the  gospel  plan : over  six  hundred 
men,  women  and  children  were  fed,  and  many  more 
than  twelve  baskets  full  sent  out  the  next  day. 

So  we  are  working  and  praying,  and  hoping  to  see 
the  day  when  there  will  be  no  liquor  sold  in  our  beau- 
tiful village. 

O 

PEEKSKILL,  NEW  YORK. 

A.  M.  Stewart  furnishes  the  following  facts : 

The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of 
Peekskill  was  organized  on  the  19th  of  January,  1875, 
with  about  fifteen  members. 

Although  the  attendance  has  never  been  large,  the 
prayer-meetings  have  been  characterized  by  great 
earnestness  and  fervor  of  spirit. 

It  has  been  utterly  impossible  to  arouse  the  villagers 
to  a sense  of  their  danger,  though  we  had  three 
wholesale  liquor  establishments  in  the  place,  and  forty 
or  fifty  saloons  where  the  young  men  congregated, 
and  spent  night  after  night  in  drinking,  gambling,  etc. 

There  has  been  considerable  quiet  saloon-visiting 
by  wives  and  mothers,  who  have  had  the  sting  of  the 
serpent  in  their  own  families,  but  no  organized  system- 
atic crusading  in  that  direction. 

O 


566 


CRUSADE  AT  PEEKSKILL, 


Public  sentiment  is  becoming  more  awake  to  the 
importance  of  saving  tlie  boys  and  young  men  of  the 
community  from  the  grasp  of  the  destroyer. 

We  have  made  complaints  against  several  saloons, 
by  watching  the  persons  who  visited  them,  and  send- 
ing their  names  to  the  district  attorney  of  the  county, 
who  was,  of  course,  obliged  to  subpoena  them  as  wit- 
nesses against  the  places,  and  bring  them  “ before  a 
jury  for  trial.”  Some  would  swear  falsely,  of  course, 
but  there  is  honor  even  among  thieves  and  drunkards, 
and  some  would  testify  to  the  truth.  In  that  way  we 
have  brought  the  village  into  a great  commotion,  and 
have  succeeded,  w^e  hope,  in  arousing  fathers  and 
mothers  to  watch  their  boys.  Great  consternation 
was  manifested  by  parents  when  they  found  that  their 
sons  were  in  the  habit  of  frequenting  the  low  places, 
and  joining  the  drunken  revelries,  so  we  feel  that  good 
has  been  done  by  this  effort.  Quite  recently,  by  the 
help  of  a noble  woman,  who  is  driven  to  severe  meas- 
ures by  home  sorrow,  another  of  these  dark  dens  has 
been  complained  of,  and  the  proprietor  brought  to 
justice ; she  appearing  to  testify  in  the  court-room, 
after  he  had  sworn  falsely.  This  place  is  closed. 
Others  are  being  watched,  and  the  dealers  will  be 
brought  to  justice  before  long. 

We  have  now  about  fifty  or  sixty  members  of  our 
organization,  but  only  few  that  have  time  or  inclination 
for  outside  work ; but  when  we  remember  how  feeble 
we  were  in  the  beginning,  and  how  coldly  Christians, 
generally,  have  looked  upon  our  efforts,  we  feel  like 
thankinor  God  and  takino;-  courao-e. 

o o o 


CRUSADE  AT  PEEKSKILL.  567 

Mrs.  Allen  Butler,  President  of  the  State  Union, 
gives  the  following  summary  of  work  accomplished  in 
these  three  years  : 

Nearly  all  the  cities  and  large  towns,  and  very 
many  of  the  smaller  ones,  have  active  Woman’s  Tem- 
perance Unions.  Three  counties,  Herkimer,  Ontario, 
and  Onondaga,  are  thoroughly  organized,  having  a 
Woman’s  Temperance  Union  in  nearly,  if  not  all,  the 
villages  and  hamlets.  Many  of  the  towns  are  being 
swept  thoroughly  by  the  tidal  wave  that  is  rolling  over 
the  land.  Some  of  the  villaores  are  drivinof  the  en- 
tire  traffic,  with  its  attendant  evils — licentiousness  and 
crime — from  their  midst.  Some  of  the  dealers  are 
taking  the  pledge,  and  giving  their  stock  of  liquors  to 
be  consumed  by  the  midnight  fire  kindled  for  the 
purpose ; while  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  shouts ' of 
praise  to  God,  attest  the  joy  of  the  people. 

Petitions  have  been  circulated,  and  thousands  of 
sicrnatures  obtained  and  sent  to  Cono^ress  and  the 
State  Legislature,  imploring  their  interposition  in  be- 
half of  our  suffering  people. 

New  Unions  are  being  formed.  Friendly  Inns  estab- 
lished, and  Juvenile  Societies  organized.  Reform  Clubs 
and  Bands  of  Christian  Brotherhood  have  been  formed 
in  some  places,  and  are  doing  a good  work  in  securing 
the  enforcement  of  the  laws  against  selling  intoxicating 
liquors  without  license,  and  at  such  times,  and  to  such 
persons,  as  are  forbidden.  Many  places  have  been 
closed  entirely,  especially  in  the  cities  of  New  York 
and  Brooklyn,  where  both  men  and  women  have 
labored  untiringly  since  the  commencement  of  the 


568 


CRUSADE  AT  PEEKSKILL. 


Crusade,  with  wonderful  results ; more  regular  saloon 
visiting  having  been  done  there  than  in  any  other  part 
of  the  State ; yet  some  of  this  has  been  done  in  most 
of  the  cities,  and  in  many  of  the  villages.  There  are 
towns  in  our  State  that  have  had  “ no  license  ” for 
years.  One  has  had  none  for  thirty  years,  another  for 
seventeen  years. 

Different  bodies  have  been  visited  with  very  en- 
couraging results,  especially  medical  societies,  some  of 
which  have  pledged  themselves  as  a whole  not  to  use 
alcoholic  liquors  in  their  practice  at  all,  having  found 
substitutes  that  are  safe  and  entirely  sufficient. 

The  press  and  the  pulpit  are  giving  their  aid  as 
never  before.  The  children  of  the  Sabbath  and  public 
schools  are  being  reached ; and,  altogether,  the  work 
is  most  successful  and  promising. 


VERMONT,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 
AND  RHODE  ISLAND. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

VERMONT. 

As  this  State  had  a strong  prohibitory  law,  there  was 
not  the  demand  for  temperance  work  as  there  was  in 
most  of  the  other  States. 

There  were  no  open  saloons  to  visit,  and  the  jails 
were  comparatively  empty,  and  the  moral  atmosphere 
healthy. 

I have  travelled  extensively  over  Vermont,  but  have 
never  seen  an  open  saloon,  or  a drunken  man,  or  a 
squalid  home. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  I visited  Montpelier,  the  cap- 
ital of  the  State.  At  that  time  the  jail  was  empty, 
there  was  no  almshouse,  and  I could  hear  of  but  one 
poor  family  who  needed  aid. 

A few  years  ago,  the  county  of  which  St.  Johnsbury 
is  the  county-seat  had  twenty-three  distilleries.  Now 
there  is  not  a distillery  or  a saloon  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Hepworth  Dixon,  an  English  gentleman  of 
repute,  who  travelled  and  lectured  extensively  In  this 
country  in  1874,  and  who  was  not  an  abstainer,  paid  a 

(569) 


570 


CRUSADE  IN  VERMONT. 


beautiful  tribute  to  the  Vermont  prohibitory  law,  after 
visiting  St.  Johnsbury  and  other  parts  of  the  State: 

“Not  a public  house  exists  in  all  St.  Johnsbury,  nor 
can  a mug  of  beer  or  a glass  of  wine  be  purchased 
openly  by  a guest  to  whom  wine  and  beer  are  portions 
of  his  daily  food.  No  citizen  is  allowed  to  vend  intox- 
icating drinks  on  any  pretext,  or  to  any  person.  In 
the  village  we  have  two  guest  houses  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  such  as  come  and  go  our  way.  We  avoid 
such  words  as  tavern  and  hotel,  a.»  too  much  savoring 
of  the  past  old  times,  when  every  man  might  drink 
himself  into  a mad-house,  and  his  children  into  a jail. 

“ Our  tavern  is  a house.  No  bar,  no  dram-shop,  no 
saloon  defiles  the  place,  nor  is  there,  I am  told,  a single 
gambling-hell  or  house  of  ill-repute. 

“ Intoxicating  drinks  are  classed  with  poisons,  such 
as  laudanum  and  arsenic;  but  as  poisons  may  be 
needed  in  a civilized  country,  under  a scientific  system 
of  medicine,  laudanum  and  arsenic  are  permitted  to 
be  sold  in  every  civilized  State.  Such  is  here  the  case 
with  brandy,  beer  and  wine.  A public  officer  is 
appointed  by  public  vote.  The  town  lays  in  its  stock 
of  brandy,  beer  and  wine,  which  is  carefully  registered 
in  books,  and  kept  under  lock  and  key.  These  poisons 
are  doled  out  at  the  discretion  of  this  officer  in  small 
quantities,  very  much  as  deadly  night-shade  and  nux 
vomica  are  doled  out  by  a London  druggist. 

“ In  going  through  Fairbanks’  Scale  Manufactor)',  I 
noticed  the  several  classes  of  artisans.  Five  hundred 
men  are  toiling  in  the  various  rooms. 

“ The  work  is  mostly  hard ; in  some  departments. 


CRUSADE  IN  VERMONT. 


571 


very  hard.  The  heat  is  very  great.  From  seven 
o’clock  till  twelve,  from  one  o’clock  till  six — ten  hours 
each  day — these  men  are  at  their  posts.  Yet  the  men 
enofaofed  in  these  manufactories  are  said  to  drink  no 
beer,  or  whiskey,  or  gin.  Drinking  and  smoking  are 
not  allowed  on  the  premises.  I am  told  that  these  five 
hundred  workmen  really  never  taste  a drop  of  either 
beer  or  gin.  Their  drink  is  water,  their  delight  is  tea. 
Yet  every  one  assures  me  they  work  well,  enjoy  good 
health,  and  live  as  long  as  persons  of  their  class 
employed  on  farms.  As  year  and  year  goes  by,  more 
persons  come  to  see  the  benefits  of  our  rule.  Said 
Colonel  Fairbanks:  ‘The  men  who  formerly  drank 
most  are  now  the  staunchest  friends  of  reform.  The 
men  who  used  to  dress  in  raors  are  now  urowine  rich. 
Many  of  them  live  in  their  own  houses.  They  attend 
their  churches,  and  their  children  go  to  school.’  ” 

Mrs.  J,  M.  Haven,  President  of  the  W.  C.  T.  Union 
of  Vermont,  gives  the  following  facts  in  connection 
with  their  work: 

When  the  mighty  wave  of  the  Women’s  Temper- 
ance Crusade  came  sweeping  over  our  land,  our  band 
of  six  hundred  organized  temperance  women  heard 
more  emphatically  than  ever  before  the  Master’s  call 
to  the  women  of  America — yea,  his  trumpet  call  so 
loud  and  shrill  that  many  who  had  been  comparatively 
deaf  to  His  earlier  calls  were  aroused. 

When  the  Women’s  Convention  was  called  in 
Cleveland,  in  November,  1874,  which  resulted  in  the 
formation  of  a National  Union,  Vermont  responded, 
and  a full  delegation  from  that  State  was  present. 


572 


CRUSADE  IN  VERMONT. 


A State  organization  was  effected  February  17th, 

1875- 

We  are  working  slowly,  but  I believe  surely.  We 
are  a wonder  unto  many,  it  being  so  unusual  here  for 
women  to  get  up  anything  that  looks  like  thinking  and 
acting  for  themselves.  We  met  the  greatest  opposi- 
tion from  our  own  sex. 

Several  juvenile  societies  have  been  organized. 

The  Reform  Club  movement,  which  is  accredited  to 
the  women,  is  doing  a great  work  for  inebriates  and 
their  families. 

W e were  aroused  to  feel  the  Importance  of  throwing 
our  influence  more  positively  on  the  side  of  temper- 
ance, because  of  the  violation  and  disregard  of  the 
prohibitory  law,  which  a wise  Legislature  had  given  our 
State. 

Though  there  is  still  a disposition  to  evade  the  law, 
there  is  not  one-eighth  of  the  amount  of  liquor  used 
there  was  twelve  months  ago ; indeed,  some  say,  the 
reduction  covers  twice  that  time. 

There  Is  a hue  and  cry  that  “prohibition  does  not 
prohibit.”  But  I am  sure  it  does  in  a good  degree: 
the  sale  is  not  openly  and  freely  made. 

I know  some  who  have  been  oblig-ed  to  abandon  the 
traffic.  One  man  in  Rutland,  who  had  quite  a capital 
in  liquors,  has  gone  out  of  the  business  entirely,  and 
goes  to  church  every  Sabbath.  His  partner  has  also 
given  up  selling  lager  beer.  I have  heard  that  he 
says  the  women  killed  him. 

Numberless  dodges  have  been  resorted  to  by  those 
who  are  determined  to  sell. 


CRUSADE  AT  ST.  ALBANS. 


573 


One  man  had  a tin  can  fitted  to  his  body,  in  which 
he  could  carry  a quantity  of  liquor,  supplying  his  cus- 
tomers (by  a tube  carried  in  his  pocket,  connecting 
with  the  can)  as  he  chanced  to  meet  them. 

Great  secresy  is  practised  and  brains  are  racked  to 
the  utmost,  to  devise  ingenious  methods  of  conceal- 
ment. A sink  is  an  indispensable  piece  of  furniture  in 
every  saleroom,  where  the  bottle,  jug,  or  pitcher  can 
be  emptied  at  a wink  from  some  interested  devotee, 
from  without  or  within  ; maybe  by  the  prosecuting 
officer  himself.  Mind  you,  the  vile  stuff  is  not  lost 
after  all — a pipe  conveys  it  into  an  underground  cistern 
or  tank,  and  it  is  dug  out  again  in  due  time,  just  as 
pure  and  palatable  as  ever. 

At  the  last  session  of  our  Legislature  a nuisance  law 
was  granted  in  addition,  but  our  people  are  unable  to 
determine  whether  dens  foul  with  everything  that 
would  be  perfectly  revolting  to  any  clean  heart  or 
hand,  can  truthfully  be  pronounced  a nuisance.  It 
would  be  decided  in  a moment  by  any  sane  man  if 
money  were  not  involved. 

But  I think  Vermont  will  come  out  all  right,  on  the 
Lord’s  side,  which  of  course  will  be  on  the  side  of 
prohibition  and  total  abstinence. 

ST.  ALBANS,  VERMONT. 

In  the  year  1873  the  ladies  of  St.  Albans,  Vermont, 
formed  an  association  called  “ The  St.  Albans  Woman’s 
Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Temperance.” 

They  appointed  a committee  to  ascertain  the  num- 
ber, locality,  and  ownership  of  all  places  where  in- 


574 


CRUSADE  AT  ST.  ALBANS. 


toxicating  liquors  were  sold — to  converse  with  the 
owners,  and  urge  them  not  to  let  their  premises  for 
such  purposes;  also  to  ascertain  the  number  of  families 
suffering  from  the  use  of  intoxicants. 

o 

There  were  one  hundred  and  sixty  signed,  as  being 
in  sympathy  with  the  movement. 

Three  hundred  ladies  signed  a pledge,  neither  to  use, 
buy,  nor  sell  intoxicating  liquor,  and  that  they  would 
do  all  in  their  power  to  banish  its  use  from  their  land. 

A company  of  fifty  ladies  called  upon  the  proprietor 
of  the  “Welden  House,”  a first-class  and  beautiful 
hotel.  They  spent  some  time  in  the  house,  conversing 
with  him.  They  then  proceeded  to  one  of  the  worst 
saloons,  and  stayed  until  the  keeper  promised  to  shut 
up  his  saloon,  which  he  did  immediately,  and  went  into 
another  business,  which  he  followed  about  a year;  but 
it  proved  more  laborious  and  less  lucrative  than  rum- 
selling. 

His  wife  complained  that  she  could  not  now  keep  a 
piano,  or  indulge  in  other  luxuries.  So  he  opened 
another  saloon,  which  brought  him  once  more  into 
prosperity. 

But  at  the  present  writing  his  prosperity  is  past. 
The  man  has  deserted  his  family,  and  his  debts  and 
dishonesty  have  made  him  worthy  of  the  prison. 

After  this  the  ladies  divided  into  small  parties,  and 
visited  various  other  places,  conversing  earnestly  with 
rum-sellers,  and  with  drinkers. 

A better  moral  sentiment  prevails,  the  law  is  being 
enforced,  and  the  friends  of  temperance  hold  the  fort. 


CRUSADE  AT  CONCORD, 


575 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  laws  of  this  State  are  favorable  to  temperance, 
but  many  whose  duty  it  is  to  enforce  the  law  are  in 
sympathy  with  the  law-breakers,  as  in  other  States,  and 
in  defiance  of  public  sentiment  intoxicating  liquors  are 
secretly  and  sometimes  publicly  sold. 

There  has,  however,  recently  been  a great  change 
in  public  sentiment,  and  thousands  of  drinking  men 
have  been  gathered  into  Reformed  Clubs. 

CONCORD,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  following  interesting  report  of  the  long  contin- 
ued work  of  the  women  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire, 
is  from  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  Alma  Jane  Her- 
bert : 

The  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  Temperance  Society 
for  many  years  held  its  annual  meeting,  presenting 
some  popular  speakers  on  the  afternoon  of  Fast  Day, 
in  the  old  North  Church. 

On  one  occasion  not  far  from  1840,  if  not  prior  to 
that  date,  the  ladies  were  invited  to  repair,  at  the  close 
of  the  service,  to  the  “Brick  school-house”  near  by. 
The  room  was  closely  packed,  and  then  and  there  they 
organized  a Woman’s  Temperance  Society.  I have 
consulted  the  lady  then  chosen  secretary,  who  perfectly 
remembers  the  fact,  but  nothing  of  the  phase  of  the 
work  that  came  before  them,  nor  how  lono;  the  orean- 
ization  was  maintained. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1837,  the  Sunday-schools 
united  in  a celebration  and  collation.  For  thirty  years 


576 


CRUSADE  AT  CONCORD. 


the  use  of  wines  and  liquors  at  parties,  calls  and  on 
the  dinner  table  was  almost  unknown,  so  thoroughly 
was  the  early  work  done.  There  were  always  a few 
exceptions,  and  the  number  is  not  largely  increased 
at  the  present  time. 

Our  Women’s  Temperance  Union  was  organized 
February  24th,  1873.  So  far  as  I personally  know, 
very  little  of  what  the  Western  women  call  Crusade 
work  was  done  in  New  Hampshire.  But  I can  report 
only  from  Concord. 

The  great  tidal  wave  awoke  new  interest  in  the 
cause,  at  a time  when  all  seemed  dark  and  discouraof- 
ing.  Owing  to  the  differing  circumstances  our  most 
earnest  women  felt  such  methods  to  be  less  hopeful 
here,  and  also  less  hopeful  in  the  larger  towns,  where 
liquor-dealers  are  unknown  and  trouble  is  more  likely 
to  gather  than  in  the  smaller  villao^es. 

We  organized  in  February,  1873;  and  in  March  a 
committee  of  five  or  six  ladies  were  sent  to  visit  the 
apothecaries  from  whose  soda  fountain  respectable 
young  men  too  often  take  a step  beyond  and  down- 
ward. All  declined  to  sign  a temperance  pledge,  or 
a pledge  to  cease  selling,  though  one  did  for  a little 
time.  All  were  courteous,  as  were  the  liquor-dealers, 
to  whom  at  the  next  meeting  the  committee  was  sent 
with  the  same  result,  though  they  did  not  visit  some 
low  “bush  dens.” 

They  left  with  proprietors  a printed  order  the  mayor 
had  granted  them  directing  all  illegal  places  of  sale  to 
be  closed. 

IMeanwhile  the  city  government  had  been  petitioned 


CRUSADE  AT  CONCORD. 


577 


to  enforce  the  law,  and  consult  and  advise  with  us 
upon  the  subject;  and,  in  course  of  time,  one  of  the 
members  found  leisure  to  attend  and  speak.  As  the 
signatures  of  very  many  citizens,  who  favored  such 
enforcement,  were  secured,  various  conferences  with 
the  citizens  were  held. 

Several  complaints  were  entered  and  warrants 
taken  out,  and  the  committee  of  ladies  patiently  en- 
dured the  martyrdom  of  the  police  court,  surrounded 
by  a crowd  of  vile  men,  set  on  by  liquor-dealers  to 
create  disorder  and  make  rude  comments.  In  Sep- 
tember two  dealers  were  reported  as  under  f,200 
bonds  for  the  next  term  of  court,  when  a court  ruling^ 
and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  proper  witnesses  closed 
this  avenue.  However,  much  prayer  and  varied 
efforts  had  charged  the  whole  atmosphere  with  germs 
of  life-thought.  And  as  the  most  thrifty  plants  some- 
times grow  outside  the  cultured  garden  bed,  we  accept 
our  noble  Reformed  Club,  numbering  between  two 
and  three  thousand,  as  the  wave  sheaf-offering  of  the 
coming  harvest,  since  J.  O.  Osgood,  of  Maine,  first 
came  to  Concord,  accredited  to  our  Woman’s  League. 
We  have  a Juvenile  Temple  of  Honor,  numbering 
several  hundred. 

Between  two  and  three  hundred  names  are  attached 
to  our  pledge;  honorary  members,  lifted  above  giving 
and  doing  It  Is  to  be  supposed,  since  the  earnest- 
working members  scarcely  count  thirty. 


578 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 


PORTSMOUTH,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  Woman’s  Temperance  League,  of  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  was  organized  February  3d,  1875.  During 
the  early  winter  of  that  year,  Mr.  B.  F.  Thorndike 
conceived  a plan  for  arousing  an  interest  among  the 
citizens  in  behalf  of  temperance.  His  idea  was  to 
hold  a protracted  temperance  meeting,  to  continue 
eight  successive  evenings,  and  employ  the  best 
speakers  that  could  be  obtained.  He  submitted  his 
plan  to  several  well-known  friends  of  the  cause,  who 
all  admitted  that  if  such  a series  of  meetino-s  could  be 

O 

held,  much  good  might  result  therefrom;  but  one  and 
all  declared  it  an  impossibility  to  raise  sufficient  funds 
to  sustain  such  an  unheard-of  scheme. 

But  Mr.  Thorndike  determined  that  the  meetings 

o 

should  be  held,  and  nnaidcd  and  alone,  he  has  the 
honor  of  beino-  the  first  to  inaimurate  such  eatherinors. 
In  addition  to  employing  the  best  temperance  orators 
that  could  be  obtained,  he  secured  the  services  of  Mr. 
S.  B.  Spinning,  the  celebrated  Rhode  Island  vocalist, 
to  sinm  Mr.  Thorndike  also  arrano-ed  for  two  after- 

o o 

noon  meetino-s:  one  to  be  a children’s  meetinof,  the 
other  a meeting  for  the  ladies  of  the  city,  with  a view 
to  organize  a society  for  practical  temperance  work. 
All  the  meetings  were  largely  attended,  and  such  an 
interest  awakened  in  behalf  of  tempei'ance,  that  its 
influence  will  be  felt  for  many  years  to  come. 

Thursday  afternoon,  January  28th,  1875,  was  the 
time  set  apart  for  the  meeting  of  the  ladies.  Mrs.  B. 
F.  Thorndike  entered  heartily  into  the  work ; and,  on 
that  Thursday  afternoon,  the  Temple  was  well  filled 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 


579 


with  ladies  and  gentlemen,  including  several  clergy- 
men. The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
Goss  and  Hebbard,  and  Mrs.  White,  of  Concord. 

February  3d,  a society  was  formed,  called  the 
Woman’s  Temperance  League  of  Portsmouth. 

From  that  humble  beginning,  the  League  has 
grown  to  be  a very  efficient  and  influential  body  of 
workers.  They  have  been  foremost  in  every  effort 
that  has  been  made  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
suffering  humanity. 

The  League  had  the  wise  forethought  to  see  that, 
if  they  would  successfully  carry  forward  any  good 
work,  the  society  must  be  placed  on  a correct  financial 
basis;  and,  to  this  end,  their  laws  stipulate  that  each 
member  shall  pay  a certain  sum  weekly. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  League  was  to  divide  the 
city  into  districts,  and  send  committees  to  visit  every 
house,  for  signatures  to  the  total  abstinence  pledge. 
In  this  mission  they  were  very  successful.  They  also 
united  with  the  Seaman’s  Aid  Society  in  establishing 
a Seaman’s  Home,  which  includes  reading-room, 
restaurant,  and  lodging-room.  The  Home  has  been 
of  great  practical  benefit  to  seamen,  and  to  many 
others,  by  furnishing  meals  at  a low  rate;  and  many 
laborers  on  the  wharves  and  in  the  vicinity  have  taken 
coffee,  when  heretofore  they  had  indulged  in  intoxi- 
cating drinks. 

The  League  soon  became  interested  in  the  reform 
movement,  which  was  accomplishing  such  wonders  in 
other  places. 

With  a view  to  interestingr  the  citizens  of  Ports- 


580  CRUSADE  AT  PORTSMOUTH. 

mouth  in  this  great  undertaking,  the  League  invited 
the  Dover  (N.  H.)  Reform  Club  to  visit  this  city  and 
hold  a meeting.  About  three  hundred,  mostly  re- 
formed men,  came.  They  were  met  at  the  depot  by 
a band  of  music,  escorted  around  the  city,  furnished 
with  a collation,  and  proceeded  to  the  largest  hall  in 
the  city,  where  an  enthusiastic  meeting  was  held,  the 
reformed  men  of  Dover  relating  their  thrilling  ex- 
periences with  the  drink  demon.  At  that  meeting 
many  names  were  added  to  the  pledge.  The  League 
paid  all  the  bills,  even  the  chartering  of  the  train. 

So  persistent  and  earnest  in  their  work  were  the 
ladies  of  the  League,  that  ere  long  they  were  instru- 
mental in  forming  a Temperance  Reform  Club  in 
Portsmouth,  which  soon  gathered  in  a large  number 
of  the  intemperate  of  both  sexes,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  a year  the  roll  of  the  club  numbered  over 
2,500  names,  about  one-fourth  of  the  whole  popu- 
lation. 

Portsmouth  being  a sea-port  city,  quite  a number 
of  men  are  engaged  in  deep  sea-fishing;  and  to 
awaken  an  interest  among  this  class  of  persons,  and 
to  create  a generous  rivalry,  the  League  advertised  to 
present  a large  temperance  flag  to  the  fishing  crew 
of  not  less  than  ei^ht  men,  who  first  came  forward  in 
a body  and  signed  the  pledge.  At  a large  and  en- 
thusiastic public  meeting  of  the  club,  two  crews  pre- 
sented themselves  at  the  same  time,  and  amid  cheers 
and  rejoicings,  signed  their  names  to  the  total  absti- 
nence pledge.  One  flag  was  presented  the  same 
evening,  the  other  at  a meeting  one  week  after.  IMrs. 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


581 


B.  F.  Thorndike,  President  of  the  League,  presented 
them  with  well-timed  and  earnest  remarks,  with  the 
request  that  at  every  port  visited,  the  temperance  flag 
should  wave  at  mast-head.  So  highly  did  the  fisher- 
men prize  the  gifts,  that  each  crew,  at  a subsequent 
meeting,  presented  the  League  with  choice  tokens  of 
their  esteem. 

Very  great  service  was  rendered  by  the  League  in 
fitting  up  and  decorating  a hall  for  the  Reform  Club 
head-quarters;  and  in  presenting  the  club  with  a 
library  of  more  than  200  volumes  of  the  choicest 
temperance  literature;  also,  aid  has  been  given  to  the 
families  of  destitute  reformed  men;  clothing,  pro- 
visions, and  fuel  having  been  judiciously  distributed; 
and  in  this  benevolent  work  they  find  much  to  claim 
their  attention. 

The  Woman’s  Temperance  League  is  composed  of 
ladies  belonging  to  all  religious  denominations,  and 
although  their  name  is  not  “Union,”  yet  they  live  in 
union  and  harmony  together,  letting  their  works  bear 
evidence  of  their  Christian  unity. 


RHODE  ISLAND. 

Early  in  March,  1874,  a few  Christian  women  of 
Providence,  whose  hearts  had  been  deeply  moved  by 
reading  the  accounts  of  the  great  uprising  of  their 
sisters  in  the  West  against  the  rum  traffic,  called  a 
meeting,  inviting  all  ladies  interested  in  the  cause  of 
temperance  to  come  together  and  prayerfully  consider 


582  CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 

their  duty  in  regard  to  the  work  to  which  God  had  so 
clearly  called  the  women  of  this  land.  A large  num- 
ber of  ladies  from  the  various  churches  in  the  city 
were  present.  A most  profound  solemnity  prevailed 
throughout  the  meeting.  Many  fervent  prayers  were 
offered.  The  presence  and  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  manifest,  and  all  felt  that  God  was  calling  to  action. 
A meeting  was  appointed  for  the  following  day,  and 
from  this  the  interest  increased,  and  large  meetings 
were  held  daily  for  several  weeks.  Requests  for 
prayer  were  sent  in  by  wives,  mothers,  and  children 
for  their  intemperate  husbands,  sons,  and  brothers. 
Never  before  had  we  so  keenly  felt  that  our  help  must 
come  from  the  Almighty  arm. 

The  traffic  was  legalized  in  our  State  to  a fearful 
extent.  Its  emissaries  were  plying  their  vocation  on 
every  corner  of  our  streets.  In  no  way  could  we 
turn  to  avoid  the  sickening  spectacle  of  misery  and 
woe  that  followed  in  their  train.  The  community 
were  indifferent,  or  hardened  to  it.  Ministers,  discour- 
aged, had  left  it  to  politicians,  and  a general  apathy 
prevailed.  Intemperance  was  fearfully  increasing,  drag- 
ging down  to  certain  destruction  many  of  our  noble 
men.  What  were  we  to  do  ? In  the  language  of 
Jehoshaphat,  we  cried,  “ O,  our  God,  wilt  TJioit  not 
judge  them?  for  we  have  no  might  against  this  great 
company  that  cometh  against  us.  Neither  know  we 
what  to  do,  but  our  eyes  are  upon  Thee.”  Prostrate 
before  the  throne,  we  besought  Him,  with  strong  cry- 
ing and  tears,  to  interpose  in  our  behalf.  Intemperate 
men  came  to  our  meetings,  asked  for  our  prayers,  and 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


583 


signed  the  pledge.  Rum-sellers  were  made  especial 
subjects  for  prayer.  This  was  known  to  them,  and 
they  looked  for  our  appearance  on  the  streets.  But 
the  Crusade,  as  conducted  by  our  sisters  in  the  > West, 
was  not  deemed  advisable  in  so  large  a city  as  ours. 
A few  ladies,  however,  went  forth  in  a quiet,  unobtru- 
sive way,  without  attracting  attention  on  the  streets, 
and  visited  a large  number  of  saloons,  distributing 
tracts,  exhorting  and  remonstrating  with  rum-sellers, 
and  their  customers,  sometimes  praying  with  them. 

We  were  generally  respectfully  received,  and  atten- 
tively listened  to.  One  lady,  nearly  eighty  years  of 
age,  went  alone  into  every  saloon  in  Pawtucket,  a 
town  of  twelve  thousand  inhabitants,  that  licensed  a 
very  large  number  of  places  for  the  sale  of  liquors. 
A man  recently  arrested  for  selling  liquor  without  a 
license  was  visited  by  one  of  our  ladles  while  he  was 
awaiting  his  trial  in  prison,  when  he  told  her  he  was 
one  of  the  rum-sellers  visited  by  the  ladies  in  his 
saloon,  and  the  face  of  that  aged  lady,  and  the  words 
she  uttered,  had  come  up  before  him  ever  since,  and 
that  he  often  had  resolved  to  give  up  the  business,  but 
he  knew  not  what  else  to  do ; he  repeated  her  exhor- 
tation, and  said  he  should  never  take  up  the  business 
again.  One  of  our  ladies  who  said  she  would  do  any- 
thing for  the  cause  but  visit  saloons,  hesitated  no  longer 
when  appealed  to  by  an  almost  broken-hearted  mother 
(the  widow  of  a Congregationallst  clergyman),  who 
had  just  learned  that  her  son,  her  sole  dependence, 
was  drinking  in  saloons.  “ Go,”  she  said,  “ I beg 
of  you,  and  ask  them  not  to  sell  liquor  to  my  boy. 


5^4 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


Somethinof  must  be  done  : I cannot  bear  it.”  God  eave 
the  message,  and  her  appeals  in  behalf  of  suffering 
wives  and  mothers  brought  tears  to  eyes  unused  to 
weeping  and  some  promised  that  they  would  not  sell 
liquor  to  young  men  without  first  remonstrating  with 
them.  One  rum-seller  said  that  on  no  account  would 
he  let  his  boys  drink  what  he  was  selling  to  other 
men’s  boys.  Prayer-meetings  were  also  held  in  the 
police  court-room,  and  the  poor  victims  of  rum  await- 
ing their  trial  in  the  station,  and  the  roughs  who  were 
loiteringr  about,  were  invited  in  and  brought  under 
gospel  influence.  The  pledge  was  circulated  among 
them,  and  some  signatures  obtained ; but  the  good 
done  by  these  and  the  saloon  visiting,  eternity  alone 
shall  reveal.  Though  we  are  not  without  evidence 
that  some  from  that  time  have  walked  in  newness  of 
life.  Near  the  commencement  of  our  work,  we  dis- 
tricted the  city,  appointing  committees  in  each  district 
to  carry  the  pledge  to  every  house,  asking  that  in- 
toxicatinor  beverages  be  discarded  for  culinarv  and 
social  purposes.  A good  many  signatures  were  ob- 
tained. A property-holders’,  physicians’,  and  drug- 
gists’ pledge  were  also  circulated. 

It  was  suggested  by  our  friends  that  it  would  be  well 
for  us  to  memorialize  our  Legislature,  which  was  then  in 
session,  asking  for  a restriction  to  be  put  upon  the  sale 
of  intoxicating  liquors  in  our  State,  as  a means  of  pro- 
moting the  cause  for  which  we  prayed.  We  learned 
that  they  were  to  adjourn  the  next  day.  There  was 
but  little  time  for  action.  We  went  out  from  our 
meetinof,  and  during  the  evening  secured  the  names 
of  five  hundred  women  to  our  petition. 


CRUSADE  IN  REIODE  ISLAND. 


5S5 


After  a short  service  of  prayer,  in  the  morning, 
about  fifty  ladies  slowly  and  silently  marched,  two  by 
two,  to  the  State  House.  The  importance  of  our  mis- 
sion, and  the  uncertainty  of  success,  overwhelmed  us 
with  sadness.  The  burden  of  that  hour  we  shall  never 
forget.  It  seemed  like  a funeral  march  to  the  graves 
of  thousands  of  rum’s  victims,  while  the  wailing  cry  of 
suffering  wives  and  more  than  orphaned  children  were 
ringing  in  our  ears.  We  were  a band  of  retiring 
women,  unaccustomed  to  publicity,  and  we  timidly 
shrunk  from  the  seeming  boldness  of  the  step  we  were 
taking;  but  believing  that  we  were  in  the  path  of  duty 
we  went  on,  sustained  by  a power  not  our  own,  and 
presented  our  request.  We  were  kindly  received  by 
the  honorable  gentlemen,  and  a hearing  granted  us. 

A mass-meeting  of  women  was  held,  the  13th  of 
April,  and  a City  Women’s  Temperance  Union  was 
organized.  Expecting  that  our  petition  for  prohibitory 
law  would  be  considered  at  the  May  session  of  the 
Legislature,  we  secured  the  names  of  ten  thousand 
women  of  the  State,  and,  at  a day  appointed  for  a hear- 
ing, twenty-three  ladies  of  Providence  went  to  New- 
port, carrying  the  names,  and  listened  with  prayerful 
attention  to  the  discussion.  It  was  long  and  fierce. 
The  rum  power  had  rallied  all  their  forces  to  defeat 
the  bill.  They  had  left  no  stone  unturned  to  win  their 
cause.  It  was  kept  along,  day  after  day,  and,  as  a last 
resort,  they  moved  to  carry  it  over  to  the  January  ses- 
sion, which  would  effectually  kill  it.  The  vote  was 
taken  on  the  movement,  and  announced  a tie.  Imme- 
diately all  eyes  were  anxiously  fixed  upon  the  President 


586 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


of  the  Senate,  whose  vote  should  decide  the  question. 
Rum’s  advocates  looked  triumphant,  for  they  felt  quite 
sure  the  vote  would  be  in  their  favor.  We  committed 
our  cause  to  Him  “who  doeth  all  thinors  well,”  and 
calmly  watched  and  waited.  ’Twas  but  a moment.  Of 
that  moment,  and  God’s  purposes  in  it,  you  will  better 
understand,  as  we  have,  by  the  following  quotation  from 
a speech  recently  delivered  by  the  tJieii  President  of  the 
Senate,  now  his  Excellency,  Governor  \Hnzant,  of 
Rhode  Island,  before  a temperance  convention  held 
in  this  State.  He  says — I quote  his  words: 

“ I sat  in  your  Senate  chamber,  as  its  temporary  pre- 
siding officer,  when  the  so-called  prohibitory  law  was 
before  it  for  its  action.  The  question  was  upon  the 
postponement  of  the  law  until  the  January  session. 
The  clerk  of  the  Senate  handed  the  roll  to  me,  for 
which  I was  utterly  unprepared,  and  announced  a tie 
vote.  The  whole  thing  then  rested  marvellously, 
magically,  and  wondrously  on  me.  By  education  and 
association,  I was  conservative — I doubted  the  influ- 
ence of  the  so-called  sumptuary  legislation,  because  I 
had  been  brought  up  in  that  school.  But,  my  friends, 
in  one  moment — for  it  came  upon  me  in  a moment — it 
came  upon  me  just  as  the  face  of  nature  is  revealed  to 
the  gazing  eyes  of  a looker-on,  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  when  the  sky  is  black,  and  there  is  a flash  of 
lightning  exceedingly  luminous,  and  he  sees  new  dan- 
gers that  he  was  before  unaware  of.  My  mind  moved 
with  inconceivable  rapidity,  and  a train  of  thoughts, 
something  like  this,  passed  before  me,  like  a weird 
panorama:  I looked  back  to  the  days  of  my  )Outh, 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


587 


and  I saw  those  who  started  out  with  life  full  of  bloom 
and  happiness  fallen  at  my  side,  the  victims  of  this 
great  Moloch.  I saw  society  disorganized,  deranged. 
I saw  men  who  honestly  and  with  Christian  faithfulness 
lifted  their  hearts  and  aspirations  to  God,  and  they 
were  draeued  down  into  the  mud,  and  slime,  and  filth 
of  corruption  and  degradation  by  this  same  power.  I 
saw  the  fairest  happiness  of  woman  soiled  and  ruined. 
I saw  little  children  degraded  and  ignorant.  And  I 
read  in  the  faces  of  the  little  band  of  earnest  women, 
who  so  intently  watched  and  waited  my  action,  the 
hope  of  a triumph  of  right  over  wrong.  I made  up 
my  mind  to  cast  my  vote  against  the  postponement  of 
that  law.  I did  so,  and  have  never  regretted  it.  By 
that  vote,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I stand  or  fall.  This,” 
he  said,  “ is  the  first  opportunity  I have  had  to  stand 
before  an  audience  of  temperance  men  and  women, 
and  thank  them  for  what  they  have  done  for  me.” 

In  January,  1875,  the  Women’s  State  Temperance 
Union  was  organized  and  made  auxiliary  to  the  National 
Union. 

In  the  spring  the  rum  power  was  again  dominant. 
And  the  prohibitory  law  was  repealed,  and  a license 
law  enacted  in  its  stead.  This  was  discouraging  to  us, 
and  some  were  ready  to  abandon  the  field  to  the 
enemy.  But  a few,  who  believed  that  God  had  called 
them  to  the  work,  kept  the  ball  moving.  Quietly  and 
silently  they  went  about  visiting  the  intemperate  in 
their  homes  and  in  prisons,  circulating  temperance  lit- 
erature, and  in  many  ways  endeavoring  to  cultivate 
temperance  sentiment  among  the  people.  The  num- 


588 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


ber  who  rallied  to  the  work  in  the  fall,  after  the  sum- 
mer vacation,  was  very  small.  Many  felt  that  they 
had  spent  their  strength  for  nought,  and  surely  had  no 
might  against  so  great  an  enemy.  Scarcely  enough 
came  together  at  the  weekly  prayer-meeting  to  claim 
the  promise,  that  “where  two  or  three  are  gathered 
in  my  name,  there  am  I in  the  midst  of  them.” 

The  propriety  of  disbanding  was  discussed.  A 
meeting  was  called  to  consider  it.  Only  three  or  four 
felt  interest  enough  to  come.  A great  burden  was 
laid  upon  us;  and,  although  the  enemy  had  the  field, 
we  resolved  not  to  retreat. 

We  kept  on  praying,  until  God  appeared  for  us. 
After  about  three  months  persistent  effort.  Dr.  Rey- 
nolds consented  to  give  us  two  days  from  his  time  in 
Massachusetts.  The  day  previous  to  his  coming  was 
observed  as  a day  of  prayer  for  God’s  blessing  on  his 
work.  Meetings  were  held  all  day.  A large  hall  was 
filled  with  the  earnest  workers  of  the  city,  and  the 
meeting  was  one  of  great  power  and  interest. 

The  rieht  chord  had  been  struck.  Men  who  had 
been  reformed  took  hold  of  the  work  in  earnest,  and 
carried  it  on  with  wonderful  success.  The  largest  hall 
in  the  city  was  soon  too  small  to  hold  the  crowd  that 
came  to  the  meetings.  Large  numbers  signed  the 
pledge,  including  many  talented  and  influential  men, 
some  of  whom  had  long  been  slaves  to  intemperance. 
The  old  Providence  club  was  resuscitated,  and  rallied  to 
the  work,  going  over  the  State  telling  the  story  of  their 
redemption. 

> There  are  now  twenty-seven  Reform  Clubs  in  the 


CRUSADE  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. 


589 


State,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  8,500.  More 
than  23,000  adults  have  signed  the  pledge,  besides  a 
large  number  of  children.  The  work  has  overflowed 
into  adjoining  States,  and  nearly  6,000  pledges  have 
been  taken  in  border  towns  by  our  workers. 

The  whole  State  seems  to  be  aroused,  and  the  pros- 
pect is  encouraging  beyond  precedent.  The  fear  that 
some  of  our  ladies  entertained,  that  we  made  a mis- 
take in  appealing  to  law,  is  entirely  dispelled,  since  it 
is  so  clear  that,  though  our  prohibitory  law  was  re- 
pealed, God  was  fitting  a noble  man  to  honor  Him  and 
His  cause  in  the  highest  office  of  the  State. 

Our  Union  is  efficiently  organized,  and  the  women 
of  the  State  seem  to  be  waking  up  to  more  earnest 
work.  Though  we  can  write  thus  encouragingly,  still 
there  are  hard  battles  to  be  fought  before  the  right 
shall  triumph.  The  harvest  is  great,  and  the  laborers 
few;  yet  when  we  look  back  to  the  commencement  of 
the  so-called  woman’s  movement,  we  can  but  exclaim : 
“ Behold  what  great  things  our  God  hath  wrought!” 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  S.  Clough,  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  State  Union,  for  the  above  facts. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

I AM  indebted  to  Mrs.  L.  B.  Barrett,  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  State  Union,  for  the  following  report 
of  the  work  in  Massachusetts  : 

The  temperance  reform  of  the  present  decade,  under- 
taken by  the  women  of  the  West,  quickly  awakened  a 
kindred  spirit  in  the  minds  of  the  women  in  the  East ; 
manifesting  itself  in  the  winter  of  1873  and  1874,  in 
frequent  meetings  for  consultation  and  prayer.  As  the 
result  of  which,  twelve  organizations  were  effected  in 
March  and  April  of  the  latter  year,  Worcester  taking  the 
lead,  followed  immediately  by  South  and  East  Boston. 
In  the  month  of  May,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Livermore,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, just  returned  from  her  lecturing  tour  in  the 
West,  on  the  invitation  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Beckley,  of  the  Eirst 
Baptist  Church  in  Boston,  addressed  the  ladies  of  the 
city.  Her  thrilling  description  of  the  wonderful  scenes 
of  which  she  had  been  an  eye-witness  resulted  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  a temperance  prayer-meeting  in  Warren 
Avenue  Baptist  Church,  followed  by  daily  prayer-meet- 
ings for  weeks,  and  continued  by  weekly  meetings  during 
the  summer  months.  In  the  early  fall  so  much  interest 
(590) 


CRUSADE  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 


591 


was  manifested  that  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  call  a 
meeting  for  concerted  action.  Such  a meeting  was 
called  at  Worcester  in  October,  being  the  first  Woman’s 
Temperance  Convention  held  in  Massachusetts.  Mrs. 
Susan  A.  Gifford  presided.  The  unanimous  opinion 
of  the  ladles  convened  was  that  a State  Union  should 
be  formed.  Accordingly  a call  was  issued  urging  the 
women  of  Massachusetts,  who  were  known  to  be  fore- 
most In  all  great  moral  reforms,  to  be  mindful  of  the 
wonderful  temperance  movement  already  begun  in  the 
land,  and  to  help  lift  up  the  standard  against  the  enemy. 
Three  hundred  delegates  responded,  representing  fifty- 
four  towns.  Thus  was  formed,  out  of  the  twelve  exist- 
ing organizations  of  the  State,  the  Woman’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union  of  Massachusetts,  with  Mrs.  S.  A. 
Gifford  as  President. 

The  first  year  of  work  will  be  remembered  as  a year 
of  preparation.  The  women  of  Massachusetts  were 
anxious  for  the  safety  of  their  homes  and  their  loved 
ones,  yet  so  strong  was  the  force  of  habit  and  education 
that  they  shrunk  from  the  publicity  this  work  involved. 
It  was  a time  of  prayer  and  consecration.  The  ruling 
desire  was  to  know  the  Divine  will.  The  question  was 
ever  in  thought  as  to  the  methods  which  should  be  em- 
ployed to  make  the  State  organization  successful  and 
permanent.  In  looking  back  over  achieved  results,  we 
can  see  that  these  seasons  of  prayer  and  conference 
were  not  In  vain. 

The  State  Union  has  followed  the  general  plan  sub- 
mitted by  the  committee  at  its  first  annual  meeting. 
An  agent  was  put  into  the  field  for  the  purpose  of 


592 


CRUSADE  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 


organizing  Unions  in  every  town  and  village  where 
Christian  women  could  be  gathered  for  that  purpose. 
Vice-Presidents  were  appointed  in  every  county  to 
have  the  charge  of  the  work  of  their  counties,  to  in- 
terest the  community  by  means  of  public  lectures, 
mass-meetings  and  conventions,  and  to  report  at  the 
quarterly  meetings  of  the  board.  This  board  of  officers, 
consisting  of  our  present  President,  Mrs.-  M.  A.  Liver- 
more, together  with  the  Secretary,  Treasurer  and  an 
executive  committee  of  seven  ladies,  form  a working 
force  for  active  service  whenever  requested. 

Through  this  systematic  effort  the  report  of  the  year 
ending  October,  1876,  was  as  follows:  Eighty  Local 
Unions,  with  a membership  of  more  than  eight  thou- 
sand; thirty-one  Juvenile  Unions,  with  eight  thousand 
members  ; seventy  Reform  Clubs,  composed  entirely 
of  men  who  were  previously  moderate  or  immoderate 
drinkers,  having  an  aggregate  membership  of  more 
than  thirty  thousand.  Eleven  county  conventions  were 
held  during  the  year,  and  over  ^19,000  were  raised 
and  expended. 

Most  of  the  Unions  held  weekly  prayer-meetings  of 
their  own,  and  many  sustained  three  and  four  gospel 
meetings  weekly. 

We  have  had  an  increase  of  forty- three  Unions  this 
year,  making  our  present  number  one  Imndi'ed  and 
twenty-three.  We  have  held  twenty-three  county  con- 
ventions, opened  several  friendly  inns  and  coffee  rooms^ 
the  largest  one  in  Boston  having  forty  lodgers.  Gospel 
temperance  meetings  have  been  successfully  maintained 
in  connection  with  Reform  Clubs  in  two-thirds  of  our 


CRUSADE  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 


593 


Unions,  and  very  many  conversions  have  been  reported. 
The  Local  Union  of  Boston  makes  a specialty  of  these 
gospel  prayer-meetings,  holding  nine  a week. 

In  this  report  of  our  work  a few  points  are  worthy 
of  special  mention.  Before  the  Centennial  celebration 
of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  a committee  of  ladies  vis- 
ited the  Mayor  of  Boston  and  requested  that  the  liquor 
saloons  should  be  closed,  which  request  was  granted, 
and  the  day  was  noticeably  free  from  the  disgrace  of 
drunkenness.  A hearing  was  granted  the  W.  C.  T. 
U.  of  Boston  before  the  Legislature  during  the  session 
of  1877.  The  visit  of  President  Hayes  to  Boston  and 
the  “interview  with  Mayor  Prince,”  requesting  him  not 
to  provide  wine  at  the  city  banquet,  is  known  through- 
out the  nation.  We  deem  it  one  of  our  most  success- 
ful attacks  upon  the  enemy.  It  would  take  too  much 
space  to  enter  into  the  details  of  our  work,  abundant 
as  they  are  in  interest.  Perhaps  a recital  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  work  was  carried  on  in  one  town  will 
serve  to  illustrate  the  spirit  of  zeal  in  our  State.  One 
woman,  after  attending  a county  convention  and  be- 
coming deeply  interested,  returned  to  her  home,  gath- 
ered Christian  women  about  her,  organized  a Union^ 
drew  the  inebriates  into  a Reform  Club,  and  the  young 
lads  into  a Boys’  Union.  She  also  formed  a Juvenile 
Union.  All  these  different  Unions  held  weekly  prayer- 
meetings,  Finding  the  Reform  Club  subjected  to 
strong  temptations  through  the  saloons,  she,  with  others, 
circulated  a petition  for  the  appointment  of  a special 
policeman  to  enforce  the  law.  Nearly  one  thousand 
signatures  were  obtained.  It  was  presented  to  the 
38 


594 


CRUSADE  AT  WORCESTER. 


town  authorities,  and  by  persistent  effort  the  request 
was  granted,  and  in  the  space  of  six  months  all  liquor 
saloons  were  closed  in  the  town. 

The  most  noticeable  feature  of  our  work,  however, 
and  the  most  promising  for  the  future,  is  its  deep  reli- 
gious character.  If,  as  in  the  past,  we  rest  upon  Divine 
support,  the  future  will  be  rewarded  with  success. 

WORCESTER,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Gifford,  Vice-President  of  the  National 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, adds  the  following  items  of  the  work  in 
Worcester : 

“ I called  a woman’s  meetinor  at  Friends’  Meeting- 

o o 

house,  February  27th,  1874.  It  was  attended  by  about 
three  hundred  women.  This  was  the  first  meetinof 
called  in  Massachusetts  after  the  news  of  the  great 
work  in  the  West  had  reached  us.  It  was  a most 
blessed  meetinm  The  hearts  of  the  women  were 

O 

touched  as  never  before.  Another  meeting-  was  held 
on  the  2d  of  March,  which  resulted  in  the  organization 
of  a society  of  which  IMrs.  Gifford  was  elected  Presi- 
dent. Since  that  time  a Young-  Woman’s  Union  has 
been  formed,  which  numbers  about  one  hundred  mem- 
bers, and  a Reform  Club,  numbering  fourteen  hundred  ; 
also  a large  Juvenile  Union.”  Mrs.  Gifford  is  still 
the  President,  and  is  pushing  the  work. 

PROTEST  AGAINST  WINE-DRINKING  AT  PUBLIC 
DINNERS. 

The  visit  of  President  Hayes  to  Boston  offered  an 
opportunity  to  the  city  of  Boston  to  honor  him  by  a 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


595 


public  banquet,  arranged  by  Mayor  Prince  as  the  chief 
executive  of  the  city.  Knowing  the  prevailing  custom 
of  furnishing  intoxicating  liquors  on  such  occasions,  a 
committee  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  consisting  of  Mrs.  Livermore,  Mrs.  Barrett, 
Mrs.  McCoy,  and  Mrs.  Richards,  waited  upon  the 
mayor  on  Friday,  June  22d,  to  ask  him  that  no  liquor 
be  furnished  at  the  public  expense.  The  following 
extract,  from  the  Boston  yournal,  contains  the  memo- 
rial presented,  and  the  conversation  which  followed 
between  Mayor  Prince  and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Livermore, 
President  of  the  Union.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the 
memorial  made  no  reference  to  prohibition,  and  that 
the  digression  which  led  to  a discussion  of  that  ques- 
tion was  made  by  the  mayor,  who  seemed  unwilling 
to  discuss'  the  custom  of  social  drinking,  but  finally 
avowed  himself  a moderate  drinker,  and  defended  the 
habit. 

THE  INTERVIEW. 

Mrs.  Livermore  began  the  interview  by  saying: 

We  come,  Mr.  Prince,  as  the  delegation  from  the 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  this  State, 
an  organization  composed  of  1 2,000  women  of  the 
State,  largely  representing  the  religious  sentiment  of 
the  community ; and  at  a meeting  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  this  Temperance  Union,  which  has  been  held 
this  week,  we  were  chosen  a committee  charged  to 
present  to  you  the  following  memorial,  which  I was 
instructed  to  read  as  it  has  been  printed. 

Mayor  Prince. — Thank  you.  I shall  be  happy  to 
hear  you. 


596 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


THE  MEMORIAL. 

To  his  Honor  the  Mayor  of  Boston : 

Dear  Sir — At  a meeting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Massachusetts,  we,  the 
undersigned,  were  chosen  a committee  to  wait  upon  you  with  the 
following  petition : 

In  behalf  of  the  Christian  women  of  the  city  and  of  the  State, 
we  ask  you,  respectfully  but  earnestly,  to  direct  that  no  intoxi- 
cating liquors  shall  be  furnished  at  the  expense  of  the  city  when 
the  banquet  is  given  by  the  city  of  Boston  in  honor  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States. 

The  painful  assumption  that  there  is  need  of  this  petition  is 
based  upon  the  fact  that  upon  similar  occasions  in  the  past,  liquors 
have  been  thus  furnished.  We  believe  the  time  has  come  for  a 
change  in  this  custom.  All  over  the  land  there  has  been,  during 
the  past  few  years,  a great  revival  and  increased  growth  of  senti- 
ment in  favor  of  total  abstinence.  The  work  of  reclaiming  the 
drunkard  has  been  entered  upon  by  men  and  women  in  whom  a 
holy  ambition  for  the  uplifting  of  humanity  has  been  the  inspiring 
incentive,  and  the  blessing  of  Him  “ who  came  to  seek  and  save 
that  which  was  lost”  has  crowned  their  efforts  with  grand  success. 

But  the  satisfaction  which  has  attended  these  efforts  to  rescue 
the  perishing  has  been  marred  by  the  consciousness  that  others 
Avere  steadily  drifting  down  into  the  same  degradation.  Much  as 
Ave  may  desire  it,  it  is  impossible  to  stop  the  intemperate  use  of 
liquor  by  the  masses  AA'hile  moderate  drinking  is  fashionable  in  the 
best  society.  There  Avill  be  Avhiskey-drinking  in  the  slums  of  the 
city  so  long  as  there  is  Avine-drinking  in  its  palatial  residences. 
The  pernicious  social  drinking  customs  of  the  day,  Avhich  are 
ruinous  to  so  many  of  the  sons  of  the  CommoiiAvealth,  are  not 
Avholly  the  outcome  of  the  appetites  and  habits  of  their  victims — 
the  fashions  of  the  best  society  are  largely  responsible  for  them. 

An  occasion  of  this  kind  affords  an  opportunity  for  exerting  an 
influence  for  good  or  evil,  such  as  is  rarely  offered.  This  banquet 
IS  to  be  given  by  the  city  of  Boston  in  honor  of  the  chief  magis- 
trate of  the  nation.  Can  he  be  honored  by  the  obserA^ance  of  a 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


597 


custom  which  is  closely  linked  with  debauchery  and  disgrace,  and 
which  has  led  so  many  of  our  best  citizens  into  shame  and  dishonor? 
How  can  we  urge  total  abstinence  upon  the  masses,  to  whom  it  is 
the  only  safeguard,  if  the  city  of  Boston  gives  respectability  to 
social  drinking  customs  by  sanctioning  them  on  this  august  occasion  ? 

Allow  us,  dear  sir,  respectfully  to  remind  you  that  the  authority 
given  you  to  provide  for  the  entertainment  of  distinguished  visitors 
to  our  city,  carries  with  it  great  responsibility.  The  drinking 
customs  of  society  will  be  strengthened  or  weakened,  as  you  refuse 
or  grant  them  your  official  sanction  on  this  occasion,  and  the  virtue 
of  our  homes — the  greatest  interest  of  any  city — will  be  helped  or 
hindered  by  your  decision  in  this  matter. 

In  presenting  this  memorial,  we  are  certain  that  we  utter  the 
Christian  sentiment  of  the  city — the  wishes  of  those  who  have 
labored  most  heartily  to  rid  society  of  the  curse  of  intemperance. 
We  give  voice  to  the  desire  of  tens  of  thousands  of  the  women  of 
Massachusetts — wives  and  mothers — who  launch  their  sons  with 
trembling  anxiety  upon  the  temptations  of  the  great  city,  and  who 
faint  with  fear  as  they  trust  their  daughters  to  the  young  husbands 
they  have  chosen,  knowing  how  drinking  habits  can  blight  the 
most  promising  future. 

And  because  the  usual  custom  of  furnishing  liquors  on  great 
public  occasions  shocks  the  moral  sense,  not  only  of  a majority  of 
the  women  of  the  Commonwealth,  but  of  a large  proportion  of  its 
men,  we  pray  you  to  take  such  action  that  this  banquet  may  be 
undefiled  by  a social  custom  which  is  the  relic  of  an  age  of  sensu- 
ality, when  the  civilization  was  ruder  and  less  noble  in  its  moral 
tone  than  that  of  our  time. 

So  shall  the  city  of  Boston  establish  a distinguished  precedent 
for  all  similar  occasions  everywhere,  and  the  chief  magistrate  of 
our  nation  be  truly  honored,  by  an  observance  of  that  righteousness 
which  exalteth  a people. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Livermore,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Barrett, 

“ Ellen  M.  Richards,  “ E.  McCoy. 

Committee  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of 
Massachusetts. 

Boston, 22r/,  1877. 


598 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON, 


RESPONSE  OF  THE  MAYOR. 

I merely  would  say  at  this  moment  in  response,  that 
whilst  I agree  with  you  ladies  and  those  you  represent 
in  respect  to  the  horrors  of  intemperance,  and  I do 
not  believe  there  are  any  words  in  the  English  lan- 
guage sufficiently  adequate  to  describe  those  horrors,  I 
differ  entirely  with  you  ^nd  those  you  represent  with 
reference  to  what  you  say  in  respect  to  total  absti- 
nence. In  the  first  place  it  is  the  part  of  wisdom  to 
regulate  what  you  cannot  eradicate.  We  have  tried 
two  prohibitory  laws  and  found  they  have  not  suc- 
ceeded in  accomplishing  their  objects,  and  I may  say 
in  this  connection  that  I myself  thirty  years  ago,  or 
nearly  thirty  years  ago,  was  in  the  Legislature  when  tire 
Maine  liquor  law  first  came  up,  and  voted  for  it  for 
the  purpose  of  trying  it,  and  it  proved  an  utter  failure. 
I can  understand  how  enthusiasts  expect  to  make 
angels  of  men  and  women,  when  we  are  told  we  are 
somewhat  lower  than  the  angels,  in  their  earnestness 
to  effect  good  objects,  and  want  very  much  indeed  to 
prevent  the  people  from  drinking  any  intoxicating 
beverage.  The  motive  is  honorable  to  them,  but  in 
my  humble  judgment,  and  I say  it  respectfully,  it  shows 
utter  ignorance  of  human  nature  and  the  laws  that 

O 

rule  human  conduct.  We  shall  never  have  an  era  of 
total  abstinence,  in  my  judgment. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  admit  what  you  say  in  refer- 
ence to  the  prohibitory  liquor  law. 

Mayor  Prince. — It  is  not  true  that  the  great  people 
of  this  Commonwealth,  as  urged  here,  are  in  favor  of 
prohibitory  legislation,  as  shown  by  the  issue  at  the 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON, 


599 


polls;  and  these  prohibitory  people  seem  to  be 
“growing  smaller  by  degrees  and  beautifully  less.” 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  are  not  advocating  a prohibi- 
tory liquor  law  in  this  memorial. 

Mayor  Prince. — But  you  say  total  abstinence. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — The  inability  to  enforce  the  pro- 
hibitory liquor  law  arose  from  the  absence  of  public 
sentiment  behind  it  to  compel  its  enforcement. 

Mayor  Prince. — I differ  from  you  there. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — Is  not  a law  always  enforced 
when  there  is  a public  sentiment  behind  it  ? 

Mayor  Prince. — Yes. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — Then  the  reason  this  was  not  en- 
forced is  because  there  was  not  the  necessary  public 
sentiment  behind  it. 

Mayor  Prince. — You  cannot  create  that  public  sen- 
timent. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — That  is  what  we  are  trying  to  do. 

Mayor  Prince. — And  your  motives  are  honorable 
and  trustworthy.  I have  been  thinking  for  thirty  years 
how  to  manage  this  question. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  have  been  thinking  of  it  also 
for  thirty  years,  as  we  are  not  young  women. 

Mayor  Prince. — I understand  that.  If  you  can  sat- 
isfy me  that  the  great  desideratum  can  be  accomplished 
you  will  find  me  on  your  side,  as  I think  there  is  no 
language  adequate  to  express  the  horrors  of  intem- 
perance. You  cannot  accomplish  your  object  because 
it  is  not  right  it  should  be  accomplished.  I believe  in 
temperance  in  all  things.  I believe  wine  was  made  to 
be  enjoyed  by  man,  and  the  fact  that  he  abuses  this 
thing  is  no  argument  against  its  use. 


6oo 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


Mrs.  Richards. — Is  it  not  moderation  you  mean  ? 

Mayor  Prince. — Yes.  Most  of  our  people  do  use, 
and  moderately  use,  wine.  Take  all  the  wealthier 
classes  of  Boston,  they  use  wine;  are  they  drunkards? 

Mrs.  Livermore. — No,  sir.  But  I think  they  are 
responsible  for  any  actual  drunkenness. 

Mayor  Prince. — Hasn’t  there  been  a great  change 
come  over  the  community  in  regard  to  drinking? 
Formerly,  a party  could  be  seen  tipsy  and  not  lose  the 
esteem  of  his  acquaintances,  but  now  if  a man  is  seen 
drunk  his  character  is  ruined. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — The  fact  that  there  has  been  this ' 
change  is  an  argument  for  a greater  change.  While 
we  are  workinof  amonof  the  lower  classes  throughout 
the  State  in  our  reform  clubs,  we  are  perpetually  met 
by  the  objection  from  both  men  and  Avomen,  “Why 
should  we  give  up  our  whiskey  any  more  than  those 
persons  of  the  higher  society  should  give  up  their 
wine  ? ” 

Mayor  Prince. — That  is  no  argument. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — But  they  are  on  a lower  plane, 
and  we  are  accustomed  to  copy  the  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  those  above  us.  I believe  the  time  will  come 
when  it  is  possible  for  those  who  wish  to  drink  wine 
to  say,  “We  take  our  stand  on  the  basis  of  Chris- 
tianity, which  demands  of  us  that  for  the  sake  of  others 
we  should  forego  the  pleasures  and  delights  which  are 
innocent  to  us  in  themselves,  but  which  are  so  injurious 
to  others.” 

Mayor  Prince. — In  my  judgment,  the  Prohibitionists 
have  set  back  the  temperance  movement  by  their 
action. 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON.  60I 

Mrs,  Livermore. — We  are  in  favor  of  total  absti- 
nence, and  are  not  discussing  prohibition. 

Mayor  Prince. — That  is  bringing  metaphysics  into 
this,  which  I did  not  expect.  To  go  back  to  the  point 
from  which  we  diverged,  in  respect  to  the  President’s 
entertainment : the  city  of  Boston  desires  that  every 
honor  should  be  paid  to  the  President  because  he  is 
our  President. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  share  that  feeling. 

Mayor  Prince. — And  I am  determined  that  nothing 
shall  be  left  undone  which  can  contribute  to  that  result. 
Now,  to  give  the  President  a dinner  without  giving 
him  what  is  usual — 

Mrs.  Livermore. — He  never  drinks  wine ; he  has 
never  taken  a drop  of  it  in  his  life. 

Mayor  Prince. — That  may  or  may  not  be. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — That  is  the  statement  of  his  wife. 

Mayor  Prince. — He  is  to  be  permitted  to  do  just  as 
he  pleases,  but  there  are  other  gentlemen  who  will  be 
with  him,  members  of  his  cabinet  and  others,  and  they 
ought  to  receive  what  they  have  a right  to  expect  to 
receive,  and  it  is  customary  on  such  occasions  to  give 
wine,  and  I propose  to  give  it,  and  I think  it  my  duty 
to  give  it.  I represent  the  citizens,  and  my  personal 
character  is  sunk  in  my  official  position,  and  whatever 
my  constituents  expect  me  to  do  on  that  occasion  I 
shall  do — whatever  is  fit  and  proper  to  be  done,  I 
may  say  in  this  connection,  that  if  I were  to  give  a 
dinner  in  my  own  house  I should  give  wine. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — That  is  a different  affair,  and  we 
could  not  interfere ; but  it  is  because  you  are  acting 


602 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


in  an  official  capacity,  and  because  the  city  has  made 
you  responsible. 

Mayor  Prince. — Don’t  you  agree  with  me  in  this 
proposition,  that  I ought  to  do  what  the  citizens 
expect  ? 

Mrs.  Livermore. — Whom  do  you  mean  by  citizens 
— men  and  women  ? 

Mayor  Prince. — I mean  the  people  who  live  in  the 
city  of  Boston  ; that  is  my  notion. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — If  you  should  do  what  the  people 
in  Boston,  the  men  and  women,  require  you  to  do, 
you  would  not  give  wine. 

Mayor  Prince. — You  make  that  assertion.  What  is 
the  evidence  that  the  people  of  Boston  don’t  wish  me 
to  give  wine  ? Satisfy  me  upon  that  point  and  then  I 
may  take  a different  view  of  it. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — That  is  our  opinion. 

Mayor  Prince. — What  is  it  based  on  ? 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  have  attended  the  meetings 

o 

that  have  been  held  during  the  winter. 

Mayor  Prince. — The  fact  is,  that  wine  is  generally 
used  in  the  city  of  Boston. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — By  a small  proportion  of  the 
citizens. 

Mayor  Prince. — I beg  your  pardon.  I think  I am 
conversant  with  the  habits  of  the  people  of  Boston  ; I 
have  lived  here  nearly  sixty  years  of  my  life. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — But  the  majority  have  not  the 
means  to  purchase  wine. 

Mayor  Prince. — You  ladies  are  enthusiasts.  I am 
glad  to  say  it,  because  all  orders  are  benefited  by 


CRUSADE  AT  BOSTON. 


603 


the  enthusiasts.  You  would  not  accomplish  anything 
if  you  did  not  go  into  it  with  zeal  and  spirit,  and  if  you 
don’t  get  all  you  propose  to  get,  such  enthusiasm  will 
enable  you  to  get  half  a loaf  if  you  cannot  get  a whole 
loaf.  You  have  done  a great  deal  of  good,  and  will 
do  more,  but  you  will  never  accomplish  total  absti- 
nence, never  in  the  world;  I don’t  think  you  ought  to. 
I give  you  my  opinion.  I have  five  children,  and  have 
wine  on  my  table  every  day  of  my  life. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — I hope  you  will  never  rue  it. 

Mayor  Prince. — But  none  of  my  children  will  drink 
it.  I think,  however,  if  I told  them  they  could  not 
drink  it  they  would  try  to  drink  it. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — When  six  hundred  of  the  market 
people  last  year  sat  down  to  dinner,  to  the  surprise  of 
everybody  they  abjured  all  intoxicating  liquor,  wine 
and  everything  else,  and  it  was  strictly  a total  absti- 
nence festival. 

Mayor  Prince. — I am  invited  to  a great  many  enter- 
tainments and  dinners,  and  am  almost  tired  out  by 
attending  them,  yet  I have  never  seen  one  without 
wine. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — When  the  boot  and  shoe  men 
were  here  three  weeks  ago  they  went  down  the  har- 
bor, and  wine  was  furnished  freely  all  through  the 
entertainment,  and  there  are  little  stories  circulating 
in  reference  to  excessive  drinkinor  on  that  occasion. 

o 

Mayor  Prince  (emphatically). — I take  this  occasion 
to  brand  that  statement  as  wholly  untrue.  I was 
present,  I caused  the  entertainment  to  be  given,  and 
when  the  bills  were  sent  in  for  the  wine  I was  perfectly 


6o4  crusade  at  boston. 

astonished  to  see  what  a small  amount  of  wine  was 
drunk  ; and  I take  the  occasion  to  say,  that  there  was 
not  a man  on  board  that  boat  that  was  in  any  way 
affected  by  the  wine  he  had  taken  ; and  if  any  citizen 
or  any  voter  doubts  it  he  can  call  at  the  auditor’s 
ofhce  and  see  the  bills  for  the  wine.  People  say  these 
sort  of  things  in  the  excitement  of  partisan  feeling  I 
suppose.  Whilst,  as  I said  before,  I have  great  regard 
and  respect  for  these  parties  who  are  endeavoring  to 
reform  the  world,  although  I have  very  little  faith  they 
will  accomplish  all  they  expect  to  accomplish,  yet  until 
I am  satisfied  that  the  citizens  of  Boston  do  not  want 
me  to  give  wine  I shall  give  it.  Satisfy  me  of  that  and 
I shall  be  very  glad  not  to  give  it,  as  I want  to  save 
all  the  money  I can.  Thanking  you,  ladies,  for  call- 
ing, and  trusting  I have  not  said  anything  in  the  ex- 
citement of  the  moment  which  can  be  construed  as 
discourteous,  I wish  you  good-morning. 

Mrs.  Livermore. — We  have  nothing  to  complain  of 
on  the  score  of  discourtesy,  but  are  sorry  you  cannot 
see  the  matter  in  the  liuht  in  which  we  view  it.  We 
stand  on  a moral  platform. 

Mayor  Prince. — That  is  the*  platform  to  stand  on. 
Good-morninof,  ladies. 

Ladies. — Good-morningf. 

The  facts  connected  with  this  appeal  were  exten- 
sively published.  The  press  and  the  people  were 
generally  in  sympathy  with  the  committee  of  ladies, 
and  the  course  of  the  mayor,  and  some  of  his  utter- 
ances,  were  severely  criticized.  The  city  council,  a 
short  time  afterward,  crystallized  the  aroused  moral 


CRUSADE  AT  BANGOR. 


605 


sentiment  of  the  city  into  law,  forbidding  the  expendi- 
ture of  public  revenue  in  wines  and  liquors  for  dinners 
and  entertainments.  So  a substantial  victory  was 
won. 


MAINE. 


BANGOR,  MAINE. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  C.  V.  Crossman  and  Miss 
Mary  Crosby  for  the  following  facts : 

The  Woman’s  Temperance  Crusade,  of  Bangor, 
has  seen  the  same  heart-breaking  needs,  the  same 
appalling  dangers,  and  the  same  impotence  of  human 
strength  alone  for  the  deliverance  of  our  people,  that 
have  moved  our  sisters  in  other  cities  of  the  land. 
We  have  known  no  strength  but  the  love  of  God,  but 
we  have  faith  to  believe  that  He  will  at  leno^th  deliver 
from  the  curse  of  alcoholic  drink. 

The  early  messages  that  came  of  the  Avonderful 
work  that  was  being  done  in  the  West,  thrilled  deeply 
the  hearts  that  had  suffered. 

In  March,  1874,  a little  band  of  women  and  several 
clergymen  of  the  city,  and  other  sympathizing  friends, 
met  in  a public  prayer-meeting  for  strength  and  con- 
secration. Successive  meetings  followed,  the  citizens 
joined  in  observing  a day  of  public  fasting  and  prayer; 
and  in  three  weeks  after  the  first  call,  an  organization 
was  effected,  and  a definite  Avork  AA^as  undertaken. 

The  ladies  divided  into  small  companies  ; each  band 
had  their  streets  to  visit,  and  thus  the  city  AA^as  thor- 
oughly canvassed. 


6o6 


CRUSADE  AT  BANGOR. 


March  26th,  a committee  waited  on  the  city  council 
with  the  petition  asking  that  the  prohibitory  law  might 
be  enforced. 

This  law,  which  has  stood  upon  our  statute  books 
for  a score  of  years,  has  at  no  period  been  absolutely 
successful  in  preventing  the  sale  of  alcoholic  drinks  as 
a beverage  in  all  the  communities  over  which  its 
authority  extends,  but  is,  like  the  laws  which  prohibit 
swindling,  burglary,  and  assault,  broken. 

They  were  received  by  the  council  with  every  token 
of  respect,  and  listened  to  with  attention  and  defer- 
ence. Mrs.  Benj.  Plummer  made  the  opening  address, 
which  was  responded  to  by  the  mayor,  who  assured 
them  that  the  matter  should  receive  the  most  careful 
attention  of  that  body.  He  then  invited  the  ladies  to 
speak  freely.  Several  responded  in  eloquent  words 
that  will  long  be  remembered. 

Notwithstanding  their  kindly  reception  by  the  city 
council,  however,  their  answer  was  delayed  until  April 
14th,  and  when  received,  the  expectations  of  the  peti- 
tioners were  greatly  disappointed. 

Having  petitioned  the  council,  and  canva^ssed  the  city, 
saloon  visiting  was  commenced  April  25th.  Earnest 
and  persuasive  words  were  used,  but  not  one  of  all  the 
number  visited  was  induced  to  give  up  his  dreadful 
and  unlawful  traffic.  Almost  any  body  of  women 
would  have  shrank  from  prosecuting  further  this  Cru- 
sade against  intemperance.  But  not  so  with  these 
women  ; failing  with  the  vender,  and  with  the  city  gov- 
ernment, to  accomplish  what  they  had  undertaken, 
they  commenced  their  work  with  the  victims — those 


CRUSADE  AT  BANGOR. 


607 


whose  strength  of  mind  had  been  destroyed  by  the  too 
free  use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  who  were  in  their  own 
streno-th  unable  to  cast  off  the  shackles  that  bound 

O 

them. 

And  what  more  fitting  place  to  begin  than  the  police 
station  and  jail  ? With  words  of  encouragement  and 
sympathy,  they  carried  hot  coffee  and  food.  No  man 
was  found  inside  the  prison  walls  so  low  or  degraded, 
but  that  he  received  a friendly  shake  of  the  hand,  a 
“ God  help  you.” 

This  work  was  carried  on  at  intervals  for  several 
years. 

Often  through  the  heat  of  summer,  and  the  cold  of 
winter,  one  or  more  of  these  women  might  be  seen 
going  on  their  mission  of  mercy  to  the  jail. 

So  great  were  the  temptations  around  them  to  lead 
them  from  their  good  resolutions,  that  the  ladies  deter- 
mined to  open  a room  for  their  accommodation  and 
safety.  And  the  “ Bangor  Reform  Club  Reading- 
Room,”  the  first  of  its  kind  established  in  the  world, 
was  opened.  Its  first  motto  was,  “ Malice  toward  none, 
charity  for  all.”  And  this  is  still  the  motto  of  many 
of  the  Reform  Clubs  of  the  State  of  Maine. 

The  fitting-up  and  the  running  expenses  of  this 
room  for  the  first  year  were  paid  by  the  Crusaders. 
This  reading-room  is  an  honor  and  a blessing  to  the 
city. 

One  of  the  ladies  says:  “Here,  during  the  winter 
afternoons,  the  Crusaders  meet  to  make  and  repair  gar- 
ments to  protect  the  unfortunates  from  the  bitter  cold. 
Every  Sunday  evening  we  hold  a prayer  and  promise 


6o8 


CRUSADE  AT  BANGOR. 


meeting  in  these  rooms ; men  come  that  you  could 
not  induce  to  enter  a church,  but  it  is  not  long  before 
they  are  ready  to  join  the  church.”  Thus  the  meeting 
becomes  a stepping-stone  to  the  church. 

“We  find  that  men  who  have  been  rescued  from 
intemperance  and  its  kindred  vices  are  not  satisfied 
with  their  own  redemption,  but  from  the  gratitude  of 
their  hearts  become  laborers  in  the  vineyards,  cast 
their  nets,  and  become  fishers  of  men.” 

This  is  the  secret  of  the  success  of  the  Reform 
Clubs  in  Maine. 

Dr.  Henry  A.  Reynolds  was  Induced  to  sign  the 
pledge  at  one  of  our  public  Crusade  meetings.  “Dare 
to  do  riMit,”  was  his  motto.  And  the  first  work  he 
did  after  signing  the  pledge  was  to  persuade  others 
to  do  the  same. 

Men  who  have  signed  the  pledge,  when  the  old 
appetite  for  liquor  is  aroused,  flee  to  this  room  and 
divert  their  minds  from  the  desire  for  drink  by  reading 
and  receivinof  jjood  advice  and  encouracrement  from 
men  and  women  who  are  always  to  be  found  there 
ready  to  help  those  who  would,  in  all  probability,  fall 
in  with  bad  associates,  and  eventually  break  their 
pledge. 

The  Reform  Club  numbers  four  hundred  and  fifty, 
two  hundred  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
society.  Many  of  the  members  are  away  in  different 
States,  but  are  true  to  their  pledge. 

Our  members  have  o-one  out  to  other  towns — 

o 

Hampden,  Newport,  Cldtown,  Ellsworth,  and  else- 
where— in  some  cases  organizing  societies,  and  giving 
aid  and  encouras^ement  to  societies  already  formed. 


CRUSADE  AT  AUGUSTA. 


609 


It  is  not  out  of  place  here  to  mention  the  encourage- 
ment and  support  which  we  now  have,  in  the  greatly 
increased  vigor  and  efficiency  in  the  enforcement  of 
the  prohibitory  law.  This  is  done  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  “Sheriff  enforcement”  act,  so-called — an 
amendment  to  the  law  of  a few  years’  standing,  which 
makes  it  the  duty  of  the  sheriff  to  seize  liquors,  upon 
complaint. 

The  vigorous  enforcement  of  the  prohibitory  law 
we  may  justly  claim  as  one  of  the  results  of  our  move- 
ment, though  brought  about  by  no  direct  efforts  of  our 
own.  The  towns  in  the  upper  Penobscot  valley,  have 
greatly  felt  the  benefit  of  the  legal  as  well  as  the 
moral  movement. 

We  have  met  with  difficulties  and  failures,  but  in  the 
retrospect  they  are  as  nothing  to  the  successes,  and 
we  can  but  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

From  a small  spark  a large  fire  has  been  kindled, 
and  may  it  burn  until  there  is  not  one  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  be  bought  in  our  State ; and  not  until 
then  shall  we  give  up  the  battle. 

AUGUSTA,  MAINE. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  C.  C.  Hunt,  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union 
for  the  State,  for  the  following  report : 

Our  organization  was  quietly  effected,  and  every 
duty  has  been  by  its  members  as  quietly  discharged ; 
and,  after  the  lapse  of  one  year  and  three-quarters  in 
this  conflict  with  rum,  we  feel  that  the  work  has  but 

just  commenced. 

39 


6io 


CRUSADE  AT  AUGUSTA. 


We  organized,  through  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  Sergeant, 
President  of  the  State  Union,  January  25th,  1876. 

About  this  time  a Reformed  Club  was  organized.  A 
soliciting  committee,  of  ladies  of  different  denomina- 
tions, was  appointed,  'to  secure  funds  to  meet  the 
necessities  of  the  work.  A sufficient  amount  for  fur- 
nishing a club-room,  with  an  excellent  library,  a large 
number  of  magazines,  and  files  of  the  latest  papers, 
was  secured. 

Out  of  this  fund  we  also  expended  a considerable 
amount  in  relieving  the  sick  of  families  made  destitute 
by  the  great  curse. 

A committee  was  appointed  to  call  upon  the  saloon- 
keepers, and  urge  them  to  abandon  their  traffic. 

In  this  respect  no  success  was  achieved,  and  know- 
ing that  the  open  doors  were  in  direct  violation  of  the 
laws  of  the  State,  and  desiring  that  the  arm  of  the  law 
might  be  stretched  forth,  the  ladies  were  not  slow  to 
sign  warrants  against  liquor-dealers. 

And,  much  to  our  satisfaction,  in  the  month  of 
August,  1876,  seven  of  them  were  sent  to  the  county 
jail.  And  still  more  was  our  rejoicing,  when  last  win- 
ter the  Legislature  rendered  the  penalty  for  liquor- 
selling  so  severe  that  at  the  present  time  it  is  almost 
entirely  abandoned. 

Our  city  marshal  has  rendered  us  great  service,  in 
searching  out  and  bringing  to  justice  these  offenders. 
We  look  forward  to  the  coming  winter,  when  the  peti- 
tion of  Neal  Dow  will,  if  received  by  the  Legislature, 
declare  the  liquor  traffic  to  be  a felony,  and  to  be 
subject  to  the  same  laws. 


CRUSADE  AT  STROUDWATER.  6l  I 

We  recognize  the  power  of  prayer,  to  which  we 
attribute  the  real  success  which  has  come  to  us ; we 
stand  on  the  solid  rock,  with  our  sisters  throughout  the 
United  States. 

Committees,  consisting  of  four  or  five  ladies,  hold 
religious  exercises,  distribute  temperance  and  religious 
tracts. 

At  the  beginning  we  did  not  fancy  that  the  paths 
were  all  flowery,  and  that  the  strongholds  would  crum- 
ble at  our  approach;  or  that  every  woman  in  the  city 
would  consider  it  her  highest  glory  to  join  us  in  this 
labor.  Yet  a goodly  number  have  come  up  in  the 
spirit  of  the  Master,  and  rendered  much  service  in  the 
cause,  so  much  needed  at  their  hands. 

Our  determination  is  firm  to  adhere  with  persever- 
ance to  the  work  we  have  undertaken ; and,  above  all, 
to  look  to  Him  who  has  promised  to  direct  the  steps 
of  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him. 

STROUDWATER,  MAINE. 

Mrs.  L.  M.  N.  Stevens  furnishes  the  followinor  facts: 

o 

In  regard  to  crusading  in  Maine,  we  being  protected 
by  a law,  which,  if  we  demanded  its  enforcement, 
would  be  sufficient,  hardly  felt  the  need  of  appealing 
to  the  rum-seller  in  the  same  way  as  though  he  was 
licensed  or  upheld  by  public  favor  or  opinion.  In  our 
State  the  man  who  sells  liquor  is,  and  has  been  for 
years,  considered  a criminal. 

He  does  not  do  it  thoughtlessly  or  ignorantly,  hence 
the  hope  of  converting  him  was  very  much  less  than  in 
other  places. 


6I2 


CRUSADE  AT  STROUDWATER. 


Still  there  are  a few  instances  in  our  State,  where 
sellers  have  been  made  to  see  themselves,  as  good 
people  see  them,  and  have  left  the  miserable  business ; 
but  these  cases  are  few,  compared  with  those  who  have 
persisted  in  their  evil  course  against  prosecutions,  fines, 
and  imprisonments,  until  finally  they  have  been  driven 
to  yield  to  the  law. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  tell  what  I have  done 
in  this  line.  In  our  quiet  village,  two  and  a half  miles 
from  Portland,  there  has  been  a rum  hotel  for  thirty 
years — for  the  last  fifteen  years  kept  by  the  same  man. 

Three  years  ago,  when  we  women  began  to  have 
our  first  public  meetings  here,  I saw  with  pain  that  those 
people  who  had  never  been  much  troubled  with  this 
hotel,  did  not  regard  it  as  a nuisance. 

The  proprietor  was  a good-natured  fellow,  called 
kind  by  some. 

How  should  they  be  brought  to  look  upon  this  man 
as  I did  ? I said  in  a public  meeting,  referring  to  the 
place  and  the  man,  perhaps  he  is  a good  man,  perhaps 
he  is  thoughtlessly  doing  this  terrible  thing.  Suppose 
we  visit  him,  and  talk  with  him  ? Who  will  volunteer? 
One  of  our  first  ladies  agreed  to  with  me.  We  went. 
He  listened  to  us,  promised  to  very  soon  give  it  up, 
came  to  our  meetings  occasionally,  once  arose  and 
asked  for  the  prayers  of  Christian  people  to  help  him, 
etc.  We  left  nothing  undone.  He  was  daily  visited 
by  influential  men  and  women,  who  talked  and  prayed 
with  him,  and  if  he  sold  at  all  at  that  time  (and  he 
probably  did)  it  was  done  very  slyly. 

Soon  his  wife,  a woman  of  his  own  kind,  sickened. 


CRUSADE  AT  STROUDWATER.  613 

and  died  after  a week’s  delirious  sickness,  during  which 
she  constantly  begged  for  mercy,  saying  the  officers 
were  coming  to  search,  begging  of  her  husband  to  sell 
no  more  rum,  etc.,  etc. 

Then  we  thought  the  work  was  done,  but  were  still 
vigilant,  day  after  day,  not  bringing  him  where  we 
wanted  to  see  him. 

We  soon  saw  signs  indicative  of  his  base  hypocrisy, 
and  although  he  sells  more  slyly  than  ever,  still  the 
place  is  here  and  he  is  in  it. 

You  may  ask  why  has  not  the  law  closed  it  before 
this  ? 

During  the  last  two  years,  he  has  paid  about  ^2,500 
in  fines,  been  once  imprisoned  and  is  now  in  bank- 
ruptcy, and  no  doubt  will  be  indicted  before  the  grand 
jury,  which  will  effectually  wind  him  up.  Now  here  is 
the  point : I do  not  feel  that  one  visit  or  one  prayer  was 
lost  that  was  made  at  that  place. 

We  carried  the  public  along  with  us;  those  who 
never  believed  we  could  prevail  on  him  to  do  better, 
were  more  indignant  than  ever;  those  who  did  believe 
in  him  at  all  were  interested  and  at  last  disgusted  and 

o 

as  indio^nant  as  their  radical  neio-hbors.  The  officers 
of  the  law  felt  that  they  were  supported  as  never 
before,  and  worked  better  and  more  effectually. 

Our  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  this 
place  was  the  first  in  the  State,  and  has  done  a won- 
derful work.  We  hold  weekly  public  temperance  meet- 
ings throughout  the  year,  save  the  month  0/  August. 

The  influence  that  goes  out  from  us  I know  is  pow- 
erful. Ministers,  lawyers,  and  physicians  do  not  refuse 


6i4  crusade  at  Portland. 

to  come  and  help  us  from  Portland,  whenever  invited, 
and  we  have  been  favored  with  many  friends  from 
abroad.  Much  has  been  done  in  our  State,  but  much 
remains  to  be  done.  Many  are  indifferent,  enjoying 
the  dear  blessings  which  prohibition  brings,  without 
realizing  it.  It  is  our  mission  we  feel,  to  make  them 
realize  it,  as  well  as  to  lift  up  the  fallen,  of  which  we 
have  many  even  in  our  State. 

On  the  road  which  goes  through  this  place  from 
Buxton  to  Portland,  a distance  of  nineteen  miles,  there 
were,  thirty  years  ago,  sixteen  tippling  shops ; now  there 
is  but  one,  and  this  the  one  I have  written  about. 

No  stranger  can  get  a drop  there,  or  any  one,  unless 
known  to  be  true  to  the  rum  cause,  and  then  it  is 
secreted  sometimes  in  deep  holes  in  the  cellar,  some- 
times near  the  hog-pen,  etc.,  etc. 

It  Is  curious  how  they  evade  the  law  so  long. 

No  change  has  brought  this  about,  save  the  ''IMaine 
law.” 

It  is  impossible  to  buy  a glass  of  liquor.  And  in  our 
cities  they  have  to  sell  so  secretly,  and  under  such 
trying  circumstances,  that  their  very  faces  speak,  “ The 
way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard.”  I thank  God,  that 
this  is  so.  My  courage  was  never  better  than  to-day, 
and  I intend  always  to  go  on  in  this  work  for  the 
Master. 

PORTLAND,  MAINE. 

I am  Indebted  to* Mrs.  George  E.  Taylor  for  the 
following  statement  of  work : 

What  with  the  conventional  restraint  of  the  women 
of  New  England,  and  the  work  so  zealously  accom- 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTLAND.  615 

plished  inr  the  interest  of  prohibition  here,  time  had  to 
be  taken  to  consider  by  what  means  we  should  be 
marshalled  into  any  line  of  appeal  and  action.  Two 
or  three  upon  whom  flashed  the  revelation  of  the 
divine  purpose,  which  supported  the  women  of  the 
West  in  their  novel  protest  and  venture,  waited  upon 
God,  and  proved,  in  quiet  personal  efforts,  that  in 
answer  to  prayer  the  lowest  and  most  unfortunate 
might  be  redeemed ; and  they  speedily  dedicated 
themselves  to  a more  public  declaration  and  service  in 
the  line  of  mission  work ; and  none  of  it,  we  believe, 
has  come  to  the  ground.  The  most  impregnable  and 
insolent  haunt  of  vice  was  broken  up,  and  the  leader 
and  head  of  the  house  at  last  saved,  and  the  whole 
thinof  buried  out  of  si^ht. 

Greater  freedom  of  evamyelistic  effort  was  soon  ac- 

o 

corded  here,  as  elsewhere,  to  woman,  in  the  sudden 
revolution  of  public  opinion,  and  these  visited  the  jail, 
and  one  came  to  lead  a social  Sunday  service  there 
on  alternate  weeks  for  a year,  and  most  interesting 
were  the  remits.  At  that  time  the  prisoners  had  no 
work,  and  this  service  was  followed  up  by  their  weekly 
visitations,  and  many  were  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Some  are  living  respec- 
table lives  among  us ; others  are  meekly  serving  out 
their  term  at  the  State  prison ; while  one,  whose  mind 
opened  wonderfully  to  the  truth,  and  was  strangely 
ennobled  by  it,  not  seeming  to  -belong  to  his  old  self 
and  his  kindred,  has  been  translated  to  the  kingdom, 
the  sceptre  of  which  is  a right  sceptre,  and  its  throne 
forever  and  ever. 


6i6 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTLAND. 


Waiting  and  watching  our  opportunity,  'the  time 
came  for  a call  to  the  ladies  of  this  city  to  what  proves 
to  be  an  independent  local  work.  With  an  organiza- 
tion of  five  hundred  members,  and  its  various  projects 
supported  by  every  church  here,  the  “Woman’s 
Temperance  Society”  of  Portland,  on  the  4th  of  July 
of  the  Centennial  year,  initiated  its  coffee-house 
work,  serving  for  the  day  the  multitudes  who  flocked 
from  the  country  to  the  celebration,  and  realized  its 
first  favor  and  encouragement  to  a permanent  work. 

Though  a very  much  lectured  people  on  the  subject 
of  temperance,  it  has  not  been  from  a woman’s  stand- 
point; and  they  believed  that  our  fastidious,  and  of 
course  intelligent  community,  would  bear  a little  more 
of  the  right  sort,  and  some  very  superior  lectures 
added  to  our  fund  and  character  as  an  organization. 
On  the  I St  of  January,  1877,  we  opened  a coffee- 
house. We  have  sought  from  the  beofinnino-  to  make 
an  impression^  upon  refined  as  well  as  other  circles 
here,  and  prevent  for  another  generation  any  revival 
of  the  social  drinking  customs  of  polite  life,  to  protect 
our  own  young  men,  clerks,  etc.,  from  the  temptation 
of  “tonic  beer”  and 'stronger  drinks  served  slyly,  or  in 
other  fashion,  at  our  eating-houses,  as  well  as  to  re- 
cover those  who  had  fallen  into  this  vice.  The  pros- 
perity of  that  coffee-house  it  would  take  time  to  record. 
Its  pecuniary  exhibit  is  wonderful,  for  in  these  nine 
months,  what  with  favor  of'  one  sort  and  another,  the 
generous  service  of  the  ladies,  and  donations,  we  have 
in  the  bank  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  with  which 
to  open,  as  we  contemplate,  a Friendly  Inn. 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTLAND, 


617 


The  work  has  been  embellished  with  a Flower 
Mission,  under  the  care  of  young  ladies,  who  make  up, 
with  special  interest,  bouquets ; now  with  the  most 
carefully  selected  fragrant  flowers  for  the  blind ; and 
then  the  brilliant  and  beautiful  for  the  hospitals, 
asylums,  jail,  etc.,  along  with  the  street  distribution  of 
loose  flowers  to  children  and  others  who  rarely  see  or 
handle  any. 

We  have  also  here  a Diet  Mission,  with  head-quarters 
at  the  coffee-house,  served  by  ladies  devoted  to  it,  who 
prepare,  at  their  own  homes,  nourishing  food  and 
delicacies  for  the  sick,  answering  the  call  of  physicians, 
clergymen,  or  other  responsible  parties  in  behalf  of  the 
sick  and  unfortunate. 

This  society  also  supports  a mission  at  the  city 
station-house,  employing  a woman  to  look  for  those  of 
her  own  sex  who  are  committed  there  through  fault 
of  drunkenness,  or  vice  of  other  sort,  or  accident. 

The  story  of  this  whole  work  of  the  Woman’s 
Temperance  Society  of  Portland  would  fill  many 
chapters  of  a book.  There  are  most  interesting  inci- 
dents connected  with  every  branch  of  it ; and  to  a good 
many  the  coffee-house  has  been  a place  of  decision  and 
reform ; the  poor  and  distressed,  and  the  helpless 
victim  of  his  own  weakness  and  folly,  have  been  com- 
forted by  it ; and  with  its  elegant  appointments  it 
appeals  to  the  patronage  of  everybody,  and  has  carried 
us  leagues  ahead  in  the  controversy  of  this  principle 
of  total  abstinence,  and  laid  the  foundation,  we  believe, 
of  a good  work  for  a generation. 


6i8 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTLAND. 


OLD  ORCHARD  BEACH. 

The  first  temperance  camp-meeting,  as  far  as  is 
known,  ever  held  in  the  world,  was  on  this  beautiful 
camp-ground.  The  workers  of  the  Woman’s  Tem- 
perance Union  have  been  there,  and  helped  to  make 
that  first  meeting,  and  all  subsequent  ones,  successful. 
The  Governor  of  the  State,  accompanied  by  other 
State  dignitaries,  is  always  present  to  speak  at  the 
opening  meeting.  Neal  Dow,  the  sturdy  temperance 
champion,  who  has  done  more  than  perhaps  any  other 
man  to  make  the  liquor  traffic  unlawful  and  disrepu- 
table, attends  these  meetings,  and  his  temperance 
trumpet  gives  no  uncertain  sound.  All  classes  are 
represented,  from  the  highest  officials  of  the  State  to 
the  lowest  drunkards  of  Portland,  a seaport  town, 
where,  even  against  law,  liquors  can  be  smuggled  in 
and  sold  secretly.  The  reformed  men  of  the  State 
come  to  these  gatherings  in  crowds,  and  take  a promi- 
nent part  in  the  services. 


MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  facts  in  regard  to  the  work  in  Michigan  are 
gathered  from  their  Centennial  volume. 

The  book  is  very  voluminous,  and  contains  a com- 
plete record  of  the  work,  and  is  beautifully  gotten 
up  on  uniform  paper,  and  embellished  with  pictures. 

This  volume,  which  was  prepared  for  the  Centennial, 
and  is  to  go  into  the  State  Historical  Society,  has  been 
kindly  sent  that  I may  gather  the  most  important  facts 
connected  with  the  history  of  their  work  for  this  book. 

Michigan  had  a prohibitory  law,  but  public  senti- 
ment was  not  sufficiently  aroused  to  enforce  it,  and  the 
liquor-dealers  of  the  State  pursued  their  traffic,  in  defi- 
ance of  the  law,  openly.  The  Woman’s  Temperance 
Crusade,  and  the  more  recent  labors  of  Dr.  Reynolds 
and  his  coadjutors,  have  entirely  changed  the  aspect 
of  affairs;  the  entire  liquor  business  seems  to  have 
been  effectually  broken  down. 

ADRIAN,  MICHIGAN. 

After  holding  prayer-meetings  for  some  time,  and 
canvassing  the  city  for  signatures  to  the  pledge,  a 
mass-meeting  was  held  in  the  Opera  House,  March 

(619) 


620 


CRUSADE  AT  ADRIAN. 


9th,  1874.  This  proved  one  of  die  largest  and  most 
enthusiastic  meetings  ever  held  in  the  city.  The  im- 
mense building  was  insufficient  to  contain  the  crowd, 
and  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  opened  for  an 
over-flow  meeting,  was  filled  in  a few  moments.  These 
meetings  were  addressed  by  the  leading  men  and 
women  of  the  city.  Work  was  at  once  entered  upon  ; 
after  some  discussion  the  ladies  commenced  their 
visits  to  the  saloons,  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs. 
Daniel  Benedict,  Mrs.  William  Benson,  and  Mrs.  Nor- 
man Geddes.  Two  hundred  women  in  solemn  pro- 
cession filed  slowly  out  of  the  house  of  God  into  the 
streets,  and  into  the  saloons.  All  business  for  the 
time  was  suspended.  Women  crowded  to  the  win- 
dows ; men  gathered  in  masses  in  the  street,  all  gazing 
silently  as  the  band  proceeded  on  their  mission.  The 
saloon-keepers,  who  did  not  expect  them,  looked  on 
with  confusion  and  alarm ; the  hotels  and  some  of  the 
saloons  were  visited,  the  proprietors  receiving  them 
with  respect  and  deference,  and  at  all  these  places 
reliorioLis  services  were  held. 

o 

Public  sentiment  in  favor  of  temperance  seemed  to 
be  rapidly  increasing,  and  words  of  encouragement 
came  to  them  from  the  surrounding  country,  and  dele- 
gations were  sent  out  to  the  neighboring  villages  to 
organize  the  work.  Many  women,  who  for  years  had 
in  silence  borne  the  curse  of  stronof  drink  in  their 
own  homes,  were  led  to  hope  for  better  days,  and 
came  timidly  forward  to  urge  them  on. 

On  the  17th  March,  the  band  visited  Towl’s  saloon. 
Mrs.  L.  R.  Damon  and  T.  P.  Thompson,  the  leaders, 


CRUSADE  AT  ADRIAN, 


621 


were  admitted,  and  the  door  immediately  locked.  The 
band  which  remained  on  the  street  became  alarmed 
for  their  safety,  thinking  they  were  forcibly  detained. 
Great  excitement  prevailed  throughout  the  city  ; busi- 
ness was  suspended,  and  an  excited  multitude  gathered 
about  the  saloon,  filling  all  the  adjacent  streets.  The 
women  inside,  unaware  of  the  excitement  in  the  city, 
continued  their  prayers  and  pleadings  with  the  proprie- 
tor until  eleven  o’clock  at  night.  As  the  band  still 
remained  at  the  saloon,  the  proprietor  wanted  to 
know  what  he  had  done,  and  what  the  women  wanted 
of  him : immediately  the  band  sang,  “ Dare  to  do  right, 
dare  to  be  true.”  Again  he  came  to  the  door,  and 
exclaimed,  “ I’m  tired  of  this  ! yes.  I’m  tired  of  this  ! ” 
Immediately  the  ladies  responded  in  song,  “ There  is 
rest  for  the  weary.”  At  last  he  could  endure  it  no 
longer,  and  fled  from  the  place.  A few  days  afterwards 
the  saloon  was  closed. 

The  next  morning,  Tuesday,  March  i8th,  pickets 
were  stationed  at  every  place  where  it  was  known 
that  intoxicating  liquors  were  sold.  This  was  very 
destructive  to  the  business  of  the  saloon-keepers,  as 
under  the  public  sentiment  then  existing,  but  few  had 
the  hardihood  to  frequent  these  places.  The  success 
of  the  work  began  to  be  most  cheering.  North  Main 
street,  almost  entirely  abandoned  to  liquor  shops,  and 
at  night  ablaze  with  the  light  of  its  saloons,  was  now 
in  darkness.  Other  parts  of  the  city  showed  like 
results.  On  the  20th  March,  the  doors  of  nearly 
every  saloon  in  the  city  apparently  were  closed,  and 
the  open  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  had  nearly 
ceased  ; some  of  the  dealers  had  signed  the  pledge. 


622 


CRUSADE  AT  ADRIAN. 


The  annual  city  election  occurring  the  6th  of  April, 
an  all-day  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  a mass-meeting  held  in  the  even- 
ing at  the  same  place.  Every  saloon  was  picketed. 
The  result  was  a quiet,  orderly  election.  Women,  who 
had  learned  to  look  on  election  days  with  dread  and 
terror,  reported  to  us  with  gratitude,  that  their  hus- 
bands had  returned  to  their  homes  sober,  for  the  first 
time  in  many  years. 

The  picket  system  was  discontinued,  and  vigilance 
committees  appointed  to  gather  up  evidence  with 
a view  of  prosecuting  the  violators  of  law.  The 
State  law  was  prohibitory,  but  a city  ordinance  pro- 
vided for  license.  A petition  was  presented  to  the 
city  council  requesting  them  to  make  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  in  violation  of  law  a forfeiture  of 
their  license,  but  the  council  declined  to  act  in  the 
matter,  and  all  efforts  were  of  no  avail. 

On  the  2d  of  June  a band  of  ladies  visiting  a saloon 
on  north  Main  street  had  scarcely  entered,  when  the 
wfife  of  the  saloon-keeper  angrily  ordered  them  to 
depart,  and  before  they  could  leave  the  place,  hastily 
locked  them  in.  Here  the  ladies  were  detained,  thir- 
teen of  them,  from  five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  until 
eleven  o’clock  at  niMit.  At  a siqnal  from  the  woman 
a motley  and  excited  crowd  of  saloon  and  barkeepers, 
and  their  associates  and  companions,  besieged  the 
building,  filling  all  the  street,  and  keeping  away  all 
who  would  approach  to  assist  or  even  to  communicate 
with  the  imprisoned  ladies,  and  there  they  remained, 
surging  about  with  oaths,  and  jeering  and  threatening 


CRUSADE  AT  ADRIAN,  623 

demonstrations  lest  the  ladies  should  escape.  Within 
the  rear  room  of  the  saloon,  and  separated  from  the 
band  only  by  a half  partition,  was  another  crowd  of  bar- 
keepers, a German  Catholic  priest,  an  alderman  and 
others,  half-inebriated,  singing,  drinking,  and  shouting 
with  boisterous  profanity,  influencing  and  inciting  the 
proprietor  and  his  infuriated  wife  against  the  band, 
and  fillinof  all  the  room  where  the  ladies  were  with 
suffocating  clouds  of  smoke.  And  so  the  band  was 
kept  most  of  the  time  in  darkness,  all  communication 
with  their  friends  cut  off,  no  ventilation  of  the  foul 
atmosphere  permitted,  while  resort  was  had  to  every 
means,  short  of  personal  violence,  to  harass,  annoy, 
and  intimidate  these  imprisoned  women,  until  by  the 
interposition  of  the  mayor  they  were  released. 

This  was  the  answer  of  the  saloon-keepers  to  the 
prayerful,  tearful  appeals  of  the  best  Christian  women 
of  the  city  in  behalf  of  temperance. 

Early  in  the  progress  of  the  movement  it  became 
evident  that  many  of  the  saloon-keepers  could  not 
be  reached  by  moral  suasion,  and  that  law  must  be 
resorted  to  for  the  suppression  of  the  traffic.  A large 
number  of  suits  were  commenced,  the  business  men 
of  the  city  backing  up  the  movement  by  a subscription 
of  ^3,000.  Delegations  of  ladies  from  the  Union 
attended  nearly  all  these  public  trials.  The  anti- 
temperance people  became  very  bitter  and  vindictive, 
and  openly  manifested  their  hostility.  Several  of  the 
ladies  attending  these  trials  had  their  dresses  cut  and 
despoiled  by  persons  in  the  crowd,  and  one  gentle- 
man, a Mr.  Brown,  who  assisted  in  the  suits,  was  mur- 


624  CRUSADE  AT  ADRIAN. 

derously  assaulted  with  a knife  in  the  hands  of  a 
woman. 

The  ladies  finding  it  impossible  to  secure  the  ser- 
vices of  officers  who  would  perform  their  duty  under 
the  law  for  the  suppression  of  the  traffic,  finally  aban- 
doned this  branch  of  the  work. 

There  were  three  hundred  and  two  members  of  the 
band,  and  two  hundred  and  thirteen  meetings  were 
held  during  the  first  year,  and  $693.43  expended 
in  the  work. 

The  number  of  licensed  saloons  in  the  city  when  the 
Union  first  sent  out  its  praying  bands  was  fifty-two;  in 
less  than  ten  days  from  that  time  all  these  were  vir- 
tually closed,  and  remained  so  for  more  than  sLx 
weeks.  The  result  was,  that  our  jails  soon  became 
empty  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  county, 
with  one  exception  only,  which  occurred  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  State.  The  average  jail  and  criminal 
expenses  of  the  county  previous  to  the  temperance 
movement  was  $1,000  per  month,  bitt  during  the  time 
the  saloons  zuei'e  closed  these  expenses  wei'e  only  $50  per 
month — a saving  per  month  of  $950. 

The  women  now  saw  the  importance  of  organized 
and  persistent  work,  and  prepared  for  a long  conflict. 
A reading-room  was  opened,  a juvenile  society  was 
organized,  and  by  systematic  work  the  business  is 
gradually  being  overthrown. 

More  recently  a reform  movement,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Dr.  Reynolds,  has  drawn  tens  of  thousands 
of  drinking  men  away  from  the  saloons.  This  has 
crippled  the  saloon-keepers  hopelessly,  hlany  of  the 


CRUSADE  AT  LANSING.  625 

leading  men  of  the  State  and  politicians  have  signed 
the  pledge,  and  now  give  their  moral  support  to  the 
Woman’s  Temperance  Union  and  the  Reform  Club; 
so  victory  is  assured.  One  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of 
the  National  Union,  Mrs.  jane  M.  Geddes,  is  one  of 
the  prominent  and  efficient  workers  of  the  society, 

LANSING,  MICHIGAN. 

On  the  24th  March,  1874,  the  first  public  meeting 
was  called;  about  sixty  women  were  present.  On  the 
following  Sunday,  a union  service  was  held  in  the 
Opera  Hall,  which  was  tendered  free  of  charge.  The 
hall  w^as  crowded,  and  the  meeting  enthusiastic.  The 
town  was  canvassed  with  a view  of  securing  the  co- 
operation of  business  men  for  the  immediate  suppres- 
sion of  the  traffic.  Seven  hundred  dollars  were  sub- 
scribed to  aid  the  women  to  carry  out  legal  measures. 
The  saloons  were  visited,  but  the  proprietors  refused  to 
sign  the  dealers’  pledge.  In  reference  to  the  opinion 
which  the  dealers  themselves  held  in  regard  to  their 
occupation,  but  one  dealer  was  found  in  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  city  who  said  he  considered  his 
callinor  honorable. 

o 

The  Rev.  David  Crosby,  of  the  first  Baptist  Church, 
by  his  own  personal  efforts,  raised  and  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Union  ^1,200. 

The  work  was  continued  by  mass-meetings,  saloon 
visiting,  personal  appeals,  and  tract  distribution,  until 
May  5th,  1874,  when  the  legal  work  was  commenced. 
The  women  attended  the  trials,  which  were  held  be- 
fore Justice  Green.  The  stairway  leading  to  the  court 
40 


626 


CRUSADE  AT  LANSING. 


was  dark,  the  room  illy  ventilated,  and  furnished  with 
wooden  benches.  Yet  not  one  case  out  of  the  twenty- 
eight  was  tried  between  May  5 th,  and  September 
24th,  that  the  women  were  not  present.  Undismayed 
and  unflinchingly  they  sat  in  the  court-room  with  its 
repulsive  surroundings,  in  the  summer  afternoons, 
with  the  sun  beating  in  at  uncurtained  windows, 
though  the  thought  of  cool  parlors  at  home  tempted 
them.  The  following  summary  will  show  the  general 
line  of  work  and  the  results  up  to  September  24th, 
1874: 

Summons  issued,  forty-four;  trials  had,  twenty- 
eight;  withdrawm,  by  pledge  to  quit,  three;  convictions, 
twenty-three ; acquittals,  two ; disagreement  of  the 
jury,  three ; no  trial  on  account  of  justice  being  sick, 
four;  suits  on  docket  for  trial,  twenty-three.  Results: 
convictions  of  men,  twenty ; convictions  of  women, 
three ; saloons  closed  up  to  date,  six ; saloons  remain- 
ing in  the  city,  twenty-eight;  fines  imposed,  $750; 
fines  paid,  cost  imposed,  including  attorneys’ 

fees,  ^419.63;  costs  collected,  ^109.48. 

The  legal  w'ork  aroused  a spirit  of  anger.  It  was 
reported  that  one  saloon-keeper  said  that  there  was 
nothing-  to  fear  as  long  as  the  women  remained  in 
the  church  to  pray.  Under  the  heavy  blows  of  the 
Woman’s  Union  the  saloons  in  Lansing  decreased  in 
six  months  from  forty-one  to  twenty-eight,  and  the 
traffic  remained  crippled,  until  the  State  Legislature 
repealed  a prohibitory  law,  and  enacted  a tax  law; 
under  this  fostering  care  of  the  State  authorities,  the 
hope  and  business  of  liquor-dealers  revived. 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSON. 


627 


But  the  women  are  not  discouraged  or  defeated.  A 
Reform  Club  and  a Young  People’s  Society  have  been 
organized,  and  a reading-room  established ; and  by 
systematic  and  persistent  work,  they  are  pushing  the 
battle  and  expect  the  victory. 

JACKSON,  MICHIGAN. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1874,  Rev.  J.  H.  Mc- 
Carty, D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  first  M.  E.  Church,  issued 
a call  for  a union  temperance  meeting,  to  be  held  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  Responsive  to  this  call,  the 
pastors  of  nearly  all  of  the  orthodox  churches  came 
together,  with  their  working  members. 

There  was  a very  enthusiastic  meeting,  and  for 
several  days  such  meetings  were  held.  Finally,  the 
ladies  were  encouraged  to  organize  and  begin  Crusade 
work.  The  pastors  promised  their  hearty  support 
and  encouragement.  ^ The  ladies  organized  a society 
known  as  “The  Ladies’  Temperance  Union,”  of  Jack- 
son. 

The  ladies  visited  some  saloons,  but  without  any 
perceptible  results.  The  saloon-keepers  knew  that 
they  had  the  support  of  the  majority  of  the  business 
men  of  the  place,  and  so  were  coolly  defiant. 

A large  and  enthusiastic  meeting  was  held,  March 
I2th,  inthe  Opera  House,  and  the  clergy  committed 
themselves  unreservedly  to  the  work.  The  exercises 
consisted  of  speeches  and  songs,  and  Mrs.  L.  E.  Allen, 
President  of  the  Union,  read  the  following  original 
poem,  in  which  is  embodied  the  experience  of  a lady 
living  in  Jackson: 


628 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSON. 


“■  Pale  were  the  lips  which  uttered  this  story,  not  long  ago. 

And  the  eyes  were  dim  with  a sorrow  which  cometh  from  human 
woe; 

And  the  words  came  low  and  broken  from  the  torn  and  bleeding 
heart. 

Where  years  on  years  had  rankled  the  pain  of  a poisoned  dart. 

“ ’Twas  a fearful  night  in  the  winter,  the  winter  of  sixty-four, 
When  round  my  lowly  dwelling  the  wild  winds  beat  and  tore ; 
The  rain  which  in  daylight  had  fallen  had  turned  to  a frozen  sleet. 
And  lay  like  a sheet  of  silver  adown  the  desolate  street. 

’Twas  long  and  long  after  midnight,  I waited  and  waited  alone — 
None,  none  but  my  God  to  be  near  me,  and  list  to  my  desolate 
moan. 

My  light  shone  out  in  the  darkness,  my  fire  was  burning  bright. 
For  my  husband,  my  erring  husband,  was  out  in  the  fearful  night. 

“ And  colder  I grew  in  my  terror — I had  waited  so  long,  so  long 
(For  my  heart  to  the  wreck  of  my  idol  still  hopefully,  tenderly 
clung). 

Then  I thought  I heard  his  footsteps  come  staggering  on  through 
the  gloom. 

And  they  sent  a chill  to  my  heartstrings  like  the  threat  of  a ter- 
rible doom. 

And  nearer  they  came,  and  nearer,  and  paused  by  the  outer  door. 
And  I heard  a voice  and  footstep  I had  never  heard  before. 

I opened  the  door  affrighted,  and  saw  but  a stranger  face. 

Where  the  flush  of  the  fatal  wine-cup  had  crimsoned  and  left  its 
trace. 

“‘Come,  hasten!’  he  said,  ‘good  woman,  your  husband  is  dead 
with  drink, 

And  the  man  who  sold  him  the  poison  has  a heart  as  black  as  ink. 
And  he  swears  he  will  turn  him  helpless  out  into  the  storm  to  lie, 
When  he  knows  that  out  in  the  tempest  alone  he  would  perish 
and  die. 

Perhaps  if  you  went  to  his  rescue,  and  whispered  a word  in  his  ear, 
He  might  waken  from  out  his  stupor  and  hearken  the  message  to 
hear. 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSON. 


629 


You  never  need  fear  to  trust  me,  for  I am  my  own  worst  foe; 

But  I hated  to  see  him  lying  all  dead  and  cold  in  the  snow.  ’ 

“ So  I wrapped  my  garments  about  me,  to  shield  me  as  best  I 
might. 

And  went,  with  a drunken  stranger,  out  into  the  pitiless  night — 

Down  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  down  to  the  haunts  be- 
neath. 

Where  the  soul  is  chained  to  a monster  that  clingeth  and  clingeth 
till  death. 

“ Oh  ! the  sight  that  darkened  my  vision,  may  you  never  witness, 
I pray, 

For  there  lay  the  one  I had  promised  to  honor,  and  love,  and 
obey. 

He  opened  his  eyes  in  wonder  as  he  heard  the  unwonted  sound 

Of  my  voice  in  that  den  of  terror,  and  dizzily  looked  around. 

“ Then  the  little  of  manhood  in  him  came  out  in  a flush  on  his 
face ; 

And,  upheld  by  myself  and  the  stranger,  he  staggering  left  the 
place. 

Fiercely  the  storm  king  assailed  us,  and  pierced  us  through  like 
a knife ; 

But  we  thought  not  of  storm  or  tempest,  for  we  fought  for  a 
human  life. 

“ Home  where  the  lamplight  waited,  home  to  a living  death 

(For  life  in  the  soul  is  not  cherished  by  giving  or  taking  of 
breath). 

And  I sat  in  my  helpless  sorrow  and  pleaded  and  prayed  to  die. 

For  death  were  a hundredfold  sweeter  than  the  living  agony. 

“ So  many  a night  have  I sought  him,  ’twixt  midnight  and  break 
of  day. 

And  out  of  that  place  of  torment  have  led  him  reeling  away. 

Oh  ! those  fearful  walks  in  the  darkness,  I can  never,  no,  never, 
forget ; 

And  the  glimmer  of  starlight  splendor  sends  a shudder  over  me 
yet. 


630 


CRUSADE  AT  JACKSON. 


“ Then  he  went  to  his  country’s  rescue,  himself  but  a tyrant’s 
slave — 

And  the  wreck  of  his  noble  manhood  now  sleeps  in  a nameless 
grave. 

While  my  heart  was  crushed  and  bleeding,  my  cry  was,  day  by 
day : 

‘ How  long  shall  the  wicked  triumph  ? how  long  shall  Thy  people 
pray  ? ’ 

“ So  the  plaintive  story  ended,  so  the  pale  lips  paused  to  say : 

‘ Say  to  the  women  of  Jackson  there  is  need  for  them  to  pray. 

Ah ! need,  for  the  cry  is  ringing  from  city,  and  hamlet,  and 
plain, 

While  we  feel  the  silent  pleadings  of  the  millions  that  are  slain. 

Need  ! for  the  fight  grows  fiercer,  and  madly  the  red  wine  flows  ; 

And  the  record  is  growing  longer — the  record  of  human  woes. 

“ How  long,  O Lord,  shall  Thy  children  sit  idle,  and  fearful,  and 
dumb. 

While  thousands  are  falling  around  us,  all  ruined  and  wrecked 
by  rum. 

Let  the  bondage  of  self  be  broken,  and  set  all  Thy  people  free, 

Till  the  world  shall  be  rid  of  this  evil,  and  brought  to  a knowl- 
edge of  Thee.” 

The  Hurd  House  saloon  \vas  among  the  first  visited. 
The  clerk  received  them  politely,  but  the  crowd  on  the 
street  were  disposed  to  be  abusive.  A saloon-keeper 
made  a mock  prayer,  which  was  so  vulgar  that  he  was 
afterwards  arrested  for  the  offence.  A total  abstinence 
pledge  was  circulated,  but  very  few  of  the  prominent 
business  men,  or  church  members  would  sign  it.  So 
low  was  the  temperance  sentiment  that  nearly  all  of  the 
drug  stores  sold  liquor  by  the  glass,  to  whoever  wanted 
it,  regardless  of  law  or  order. 

The  law  which  required  the  saloons  to  be  closed  on 


CRUSADE  AT  GRAND  RAPIDS.  63 1 

Sunday  was  openly  defied  and  scoffed  at.  The  ladies 
sent  a petition  to  the  common  council,  requesting  the 
enforcement  of  the  Sunday  law ; but  it  was  laid  upon 
the  table,  no  attention  whatever  being  paid  to  it. 

A vigilance  committee  was  appointed,  and  a number 
of  saloon-keepers  were  arrested  for  breaking  the  Sun- 
day law.  They  were  tried  before  the  courts,  and, 
although  abundant  and  reliable  proof  was  produced, 
yet  judge  and  jury  conspired  to  render  a verdict  of 
acquittal. 

Outdoor  meetings  were  held  during  the  spring  and 
' summer,  under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  Mary  T.  La- 
throp  and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Brown,  both  of  them  indefatiga- 
ble workers  in  the  temperance  cause. 

The  daily  meetings  were  continued  for  about  three 
months,  after  which  they  were  held  weekly.  These 
continued  for  a while  ; but  the  churches  were  so  indif- 
ferent, and  public  sentiment  so  opposed,  that  after  a 
while  the  meetings  were  abandoned  entirely. 

But  of  late  there  is  a new  interest  beina-  awakened 

o 

on  the  temperance  question,  and  may  God  speed  the 
day  when  this  nation  shall  put  this  great  enemy  of  in- 
temperance under  her  feet,  and  shall  stand  before  the 
world  purified  and  saved. 

GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN. 

A Woman’s  Prohibition  Society  was  organized  in 
this  town  in  1872.  The  circumstance  leading  to  this 
action  was  the  wrongs  and  sufferings  of  a woman  of 
intelligence  and  culture,  whose  husband  was  a victim 
of  the  drink  habit.  The  existence  of  this  society  was 


632 


CRUSADE  AT  GRAND  RAPIDS. 


maintained  up  to  the  Crusade.  The  heroic  little  band^ 
with  fresh  hope  and  courage,  renewed  their  work.  One 
public  house  turned  out  its  bar,  one  wholesale  grocery 
gave  up  the  liquor  trade,  a few  small  retail  saloons 
were  shut  up  ; sixteen  out  of  eighteen  signed  the  drug- 
gists’ pledge. 

Many  who  professed  Christianity  withheld  their  aid 
and  sympathy:  none  were  quicker  to  see  this  than  the 
saloon-keepers,  and  taking  advantage  of  this  indecision, 
the  liquor  ring  sent  out  its  messengers,  with  the  threat 
that  business  and  political  patronage  would  be  with- 
held from  all  who  had  anything  to  do  with  the  temper- 
ance cause.  Covert  threats  were  also  sent  out,  warninof 
persons  of  danger  to  their  property ; and  men  of  wealth 
and  influence,  some  of  them  pillars  in  the  church  and 
society,  sold  their  principles,  allowed  their  convictions 
to  be  silenced,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  desire  their 
wives  to  discontinue  their  open  connection  with  the 
Woman’s  Temperance  Union.  There  were  honorable 
exceptions,  however — men  who  stood  by  their  prin- 
ciples. 

Noble  and  influential  women  of  the  city,  who  had 
formerly  been  active  in  the  Woman’s  Prohibition 
Society,  stood  aloof,  having  no  faith  in  the  present 
movement. 

In  all  these  discouragements,  the  earnest  women 
engaged  in  the  work  only  saw  the  valley  of  humiliation 
through  which  they  must  pass  before  they  ascend  to 
the  mount  of  victory. 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Bois  is  the  President,  and  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Eggleston,  Corresponding  Secretary. 


CRUSADE  AT  COLD  WATER  AND  EATON  RAPIDS.  633 

COLD  WATER,  MICHIGAN. 

After  several  preliminary  meetings  for  prayer  and 
conference,  a mass-meeting  was  held,  April  i6th,  1874, 
at  the  M,  E.  Church.  Twelve  ladles  passed  through 
the  audience  and  secured  177  names  as  workers,  which 
was  soon  augmented  to  200. 

The  men  said  they  were  ashamed  to  have  the  women 
do  the  work,  and  formed  a committee  for  the  purpose 
of  doinof  the  work  themselves.  The  women  waited 
patiently,  then  sent  a committee  to  inquire  as  to  their 
success.  They  told  the  ladies  to  keep  quiet,  that  they 
were  doing  all  they  could,  but  it  took  time  to  accom- 
plish such  a great  work.  What  the  men  really  did 
was  to  give  the  liquor-dealers  thirty  days  time  to  quit 
the  business,  or  in  other  words,  to  give  them  that  much 
time  to  perfect  their  arrangements  to  sell  secretly. 
Not  a single  saloon  was  closed,  and  now  they  tell  the 
women  tauntingly,  that  they  did  not  intend  to  close  the 
saloons,  but  took  this  means  to  prevent  the  women 
from  working.  But  amid  all  these  discouragements, 
the  women  are  pushing  their  work,  trusting  in  God  for 
the  victory.  ■ 

Mrs.  Dr.  Geo.  Ferguson,  Secretary. 

EATON  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN. 

The  work  began  in  this  town  in  March,  1874;  the 
'first  visit  to  the  saloons  was  by  a committee  of  six  ladles ; 
soon  afterwards  they  went  in  a body.  One  of  their  visits 
was  to  a first-class  hotel,  where  they  asked  the  privi- 
lege of  prayer;  the  landlord  objected,  said  he  would 
have  no  noise  or  excitement  in  his  house,  as  his  wife 


634 


CRUSADE  AT  EATON  RAPIDS. 


was  very  sick,  but  all  the  time  he  was  making  a great 
noise  himself.  “ Very  well,”  said  the  leader,  “we  will 
have  a season  of  silent  prayer,”  to  which  he  replied, 
“ Pray  away,  that’s  your  privilege,”  and  turning,  walked 
to  the  other  side  of  the  room  ; at  a wave  from  the 
leader’s  hand,  they  all  knelt  on  the  office  floor ; the 
rustle  of  their  dresses  attracted  his  attention  ; he  turned 
and  came  to  them  like  an  enraged  tiger.  A lady  (her 
husband  at  that  time  was  drinking  terribly),  whose 
countenance  was  indicative  of  a broken  heart,  was 
kneeling  in  front  of  the  others.  The  enraged  proprietor 
caught  this  pale,  trembling,  heart-broken  Christian 
lady,  and  hurled  her  with  violence  against  the  rest> 
saying ; “ Get  out ! I won’t  have  it ; get  out,  get  out.” 
Rising  as  quietly  as  possible  the  ladies  passed  out,  the 
proprietor  busying  himself  pushing  and  scolding  those 
in  the  rear.  The  ladies  were  sad,  but  not  disappointed. 
The  next  day  double  the  number  convened  for  action. 

Not  many  months  passed  till  that  beautiful  house  lay  a 
mass  of  charred  ruins.  The  next  day  the  leader  of  the 
band,  the  marshal  of  the  village  by  her  side,  visited  the 
Spring  House  ; after  singing  and  prayer,  the  mother-in- 
law  of  the  bartender,  who  stood  beside  the  proprietor, 
opened  her  mouth,  and  the  Lord  filled  it  with  a stream  of 
eloquence  most  touching,  most  pathetic.  Fifteen  minutes 
after  they  left  the  room  the  proprietor  closed  out  his 
bar,  saying,  while  the  tears  ran  down  his  face,  “ No  one 
need  ever  tell  me  again  there  is  no  power  in  prayer.” 
The  whole  community  seemed  aroused,  by  seeing  the 
procession  of  ladies ; others  could  not  bear  to  look  at 
them ; men  who  did  not  consider  themselves  temperance 


CRUSADE  AT  NE^'?  BOSTON. 


635 


men  declared  they  could  think  of  nothing  else  night 
or  day ; ministers  who  had  lacked  interest  became 
radical.  At  length  it  was  thought  wise  to  petition  the 
village  board : accordingly  a committee  of  eight  ladies 
presented  a petition.  Their  prayer  was  granted,  and 
the  marshal  instructed  to  order  the  bars  closed  the  next 
morning.  From  that  time  until  the  change  in  the  law, 
liquor  was  not  sold  openly  and  defiantly.  During  the 
first  week  of  the  license,  or  tax  law,  there  were  more 
drunkards  on  the  streets  than  in  the  six  months  previous. 

Mrs.  Ira  Turney,  President. 

Mrs.  J.  E.  SwEEZEY,  Secretary, 

NEW  BOSTON,  MICHIGAN. 

The  followincr  incident  led  to  the  commencement 

o 

of  the  work  in  this  place.  A lady  died  in  Ohio,  who 
had  formerly  lived  in  New  Boston,  and  whose  son 
was  still  living  there,  on  the  ancestral  farm,  but  he 
had  learned  to  love  the  fatal  cup,  and  his  career  had 
given  his  mother  much  sorrow.  She  was  in  the  Cru- 
sade of  Ohio,  and  it  was  her  purpose  to  go  to  New 
Boston  and  inaugurate  a Crusade  to  save  her  son. 
But  God  called  her  home,  and  her  husband  brought 
her  body  to  be  buried  there,  and  told  the  story.  A 
deep  interest  was  aroused,  and  the  Christian  women 
felt  called  to  take  up  this  work  that  the  mother  had 
laid  down. 

There  were,  at  that  time,  two  saloons  and  one  tavern 
in  successful  operation  in  the  village.  Two  of  them 
did  more  business  on  the  Sabbath  than  on  any  other 
day  of  the  week;  gambling  was  constantly  practised 
in  all;  and  the  minister,  as  he  passed  to  his  church, 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  BOSTON. 


636 

could  count  more  men  and  boys  about  the  tavern 
doors  than  he  could  in  the  church.  The  women  com- 
menced by  ascertaining  how  many  In  the  village  and 
vicinity  were  willing  to  give  their  aid  and  influence. 
All  professed  themselves  more  than  willing.  A com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  visit  the  saloon-keepers,  and 
talk  kindly  with  them,  and  urge  them  to  give  up  a 
business  that  was  rulnlngf  themselves  as  well  as  their 
unhappy  victims.  Two  agreed  to  close  their  doors  if 
all  would ; the  third,  a German,  who  kept  a den  that 
for  vileness  could  hardly  be  surpassed,  was  deter- 
mined to  sell  in  spite  of  them. 

It  was  ascertained  that  less  than  ^75  would  pur- 
chase all  the  liquors  in  the  place  and  close  out  the 
saloons,  but  the  temperance  men  objected  to  it,  and 
the  women  abandoned  that  project,  hlass-meetlngs 
and  saloon  visiting  continued,  and  such  enthusiasm 
was  aroused,  that  two  of  the  saloonists  moved  away, 
leaving  only  the  defiant,  law-breaking  German  in  the 
business.  He  was  backed  up  by  a man  of  considerable 
influence,  who  received  from  the  government  a large 
salary,  as  a sort  of  pseudo  revenue  officer.  The  ladies 
went  eu  masse  to  the  saloon  of  this  German.  He  received 
them  with  considerable  trepidation,  and  would  have 
run  away,  but  for  the  loungers  in  the  bar-room,  who 
detained  him  ; but  his  wife,  an  ignorant  and  depraved 
woman,  soon  appeared  on  the  scene,  and  commenced 
like  Saul  of  Tarsus  to  breathe  out  threatenings  and 
slaughter.  When  this  man’s  courage  would  falter, 
under  the  earnest  appeals  of  wives  and  mothers,  the 
bar-room  loungers  would  jeer  and  offer  insult,  to  break 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  BOSTON. 


637 


the  force  of  their  words.  They  found  there  not  only 
opposition,  but  an  atmosphere  of  corruption  and  vice, 
and  real  danger,  but  they  did  not  falter.  On  visiting 
the  place  again,  they  found  two  gray-headed  old  men, 
both  of  whom  had  held  the  highest  office  in  the  gift 
of  their  fellow-townsmen,  one  of  them  the  pseudo 
revenue  officer  before  mentioned.  They  were  just  in 
the  act  of  drinking  at  the  bar  as  they  entered.  No 
words  can  do  justice  to  the  scene.  They  knew  that 
the  women  were  on  the  alert  for  evidence  to  convict 
the  liquor-seller,  and  they  might  be  used  to  convict 
the  man  they  were  laboring  so  hard  to  sustain.  They 
tried  to  hide  themselves  behind  each  other,  or  behind 
the  stove,  or  anything  that  promised  to  protect  them 
from  view,  the  little  band  of  determined  women  being 
between  them  and  the  door. 

Having  secured  sufficient  evidence  they  determined 
to  prosecute  the  German  dealer.  They  called  upon  the 
temperance  men  to  subscribe  each  a small  amount,  but 
with  one  accord  they  all  began  to  make  excuse,  except 
two ; the  merchant  pleaded  that  he  had  no  shutters  to 
his  store  front;  the  doctor  thought  it  would  hurt  his 
practice  ; the  politician  feared  loss  of  votes  ; the  farmer 
dreaded  a girdled  orchard,  and  it  was  only  after  long 
marching  and  much  pleading  that  f>io  was  secured  to 
fee  an  able  lawyer,  who  undertook  this  case  for  that. 
The  day  of  trial  arrived.  They  went  In  force  to  an 
adjoining  town,  where  the  case  was  to  be  tried  before 
an  honorable  temperance  justice  of  the  peace. 

Their  witnesses  nearly  all  disappointed  them  ; some, 
they  had  reason  to  believe,  perjured  themselves.  The 


638  CRUSADE  AT  NEW  BOSTON, 

jury  retired  at  nine  p.  m.  One,  two,  three  hours  passed 
away,  and  no  verdict.  But  just  as  the  hands  of  the 
clock  in  the  county  school-house,  where  the  trial  took 
place  on  this  Saturday  night,  pointed  five  minutes  to 
twelve,  the  jury  appeared  and  announced,  amid  the 
most  solemn  stillness,  the  verdict,  “Guilty.”  The 
justice,  with  an  eye  on  the  clock,  pronounced  the 
Sentence — a fine,  or  imprisonment  till  the  fine  was 
paid.  With  happy  hearts  they  started  for  their  homes, 
feeling  that  victory  was  about  to  crown  their  efforts. 
But  the  authorities  did  not  enforce  the  collection  of 
the  fine,  and  the  drinking,  gambling,  and  Sunday 
desecration  continued.  Again  they  arrested  him  for 
keeping  his  saloon  open  on  the  Sabbath.  He  was 
tried  before  a resident  justice,  a professing  Christian. 
The  man  pleaded  guilty,  and  was  fined  only  five  dollars. 
He  was  delighted,  and  exultingly  paid  his  fine.  Again 
they  arrested  him  for  allowing  minors  to  gamble  in  his 
house.  He  was  tried  before  another  justice,  a man 
who  had  said  he  would  sacrifice  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  move  away,  if  that  very  house  was  not  closed. 
The  dealer  pleaded  guilty,  and  was  fined  three  dollars. 
The  man  laughingly  declared  he  could  well  afford  that, 
as  the  previous  Sunday  he  had  made  from  his  gaming 
table  thirty  dollars. 

The  women  were  now  thoroughly  convinced  that 
the  men  who  had  so  loudly  talked  temperance  could 
not  be  depended  upon.  The  town  board  -had  prom- 
ised to  stand  by  the  ladies  in  their  efforts  to  suppress 
the  illegal  traffic;  but  in  the  first  case  the  fine  was  not 
collected,  and  in  the  other  two  they  were  too  small  to 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  BOSTON. 


639 


be  felt,  although  imposed  for  grave  offences.  The  next 
Sabbath  the  passers  by,  on  their  way  to  church,  were 
pained,  as  usual,  by  the  open  doors,  sounds  of  dice, 
card-playing,  and  swearing,  as  though  it  were  all  per- 
fectly legitimate.  As  the  traffic  was  sustained  by  the 
officers  of  the  law,  the  ladies  deemed  it  unwise  to  con- 
tinue the  leofal  work. 

During  all  this  time  the  vile  spirit  of  rum  manifested 
itself  in  lawlessness  and  deeds  of  violence.  One  of 
the  workers  was  the  wife  of  a merchant,  who  was 
movine  his  buildingr  from  one  lot  to  another.  The 
whiskey  party  gathered  near  the  place;  rum  flowed  as 
free  as  water,  and  a fight  occurred  that  beggars  de- 
scription. Infuriated  with  the  vile  stuff,  they  seized 
sticks  and  clubs,  and  struck  friend  and  foe  alike. 
Women  and  children  rushed  to  the  rescue,  and  then 
fled  in  terror  from  the  scene.  One  mother,  who  recog- 
nized her  son  among  the  combatants,  was  with  diffi- 
culty restrained  from  going  to  his  rescue.  His  young 
wife,  regardless  of  the  fast-falling  blows,  rushed  to  his 
aid,  and  the  poor,  beaten  wretch,  unworthy  of  so  much 
womanly  sympathy,  was  finally  saved  from  what  might 
have  been  a fearful  death.  The  merchant  received 
friendly  warning  that  his  building  was  in  danger  of 
being  fired.  On  the  night  of  the  3d  of  July,  the 
whiskey  party  placed  three  anvils  within  eight  feet  of 
the  glass  front  of  this  man’s  store,  and  loaded  them 
with  gunpowder,  and  fired  them,  knowing  at  the  time 
that  the  husband  was  absent,  and  that  the  wife,  with 
her  three  little  children,  one  an  infant,  was  in  the  house 
alone.  The  yell  of  disappointed  rage  that  broke  from 


640 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  BOSTON. 


them  as  the  smoke  cleared  away,  and  they  found  that 
not  one  of  the  larcje  lio-hts  was  broken,  made  ni^ht 
hideous.  About  an  hour  later,  one  man,  more  noisy 
than  discreet,  shouted,  in  drunken  tones,  “Let’s  fire 
. the  blind  man’s  store!”  The  object  of  their  fiendish 
malice  was  totally  blind,  and  had  been  brought  up 
amongst  them  from  childhood,  and  was  every  way 
worthy  of  their  respect,  his  only  fault  being  earnest 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  temperance.  Failing  to  other- 
wise injure  his  building,  they  defaced  it  by  writing, 
during  the  night,  offensive  epithets  in  large  letters. 
On  one  occasion  they  bought  a keg  of  beer,  and  built  a 
bonfire  in  front  of  his  house,  and  with  orgies  that  would 
have  graced  pandemonium,  drank  it  to  the  dregs. 

A large  stone  was  thrown  through  the  window  of  a 
sleeping-room  in  the  house  of  another  member  of  the 
Union  with  such  force  as  to  break  the  plastering  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  and  greatly  endanger 
. the  sleepers.  Two  of  these  disturbers  of  the  peace 
reaped  their  reward  within  a short  time.  Leaving  the 
tavern  intoxicated  one  dark  night,  one  journeyed 
north,  the  other  south,  on  the  railroad  track.  One  fell 
through  the  bridge  into  the  dark  river  below,  and  his 
body  lay  there  a week  before  it  was  known  what  had 
become  of  him.  The  other  was  found  the  next  morn- 
ing in  a culvert,  a mangled  corpse,  by  his  own  daughter, 
who  had  been  sent  by  the  anxious  wife  and  mother, 
after  a night  of  sleepless  anxiety,  to  search  for  him. 

And  still  the  wives  and  mothers  weep,  and  watch, 
and  pray,  for  still  the  fearful  work  of  ruin  goes  on. 
The  ladies  attribute  their  failure  to  the  cowardice  and 


CRUSADE  AT  PORTLAND.  64 1 

instability  of  the  temperance  men,  who  have  made 
their  village  a reproach  and  a by-word  in  the  land. 

PORTLAND,  MICHIGAN. 

On  March  30th,  1874,  a citizens’  temperance  conven- 
tion was  held  at  Bower’s  Hall,  presided  over  by  Dr. 
M.  B.  Beers.  At  this  meeting  Rev.  A.  March,  Pres- 
byterian, suggested  that  the  ladies  should  assist  in 
forwarding  the  cause  of  temperance.  They  needed  no 
second  invitation.  A meeting  was  held  the  next 
morning,  and  the  town  districted  and  canvassed  for 
names  to  the  several  pledges. 

April  2d,  1874,  a lawsuit  against  a saloonist  for 
unlawful  sale  of  liquors  was  instituted  by  the  village 
board.  The  ladies  attended  the  trial.  Defendant  was 
convicted  and  fined  ^25.  When  the  decision  was 
announced,  the  ladies  sang  “ Glory  Hallelujah,”  and 
the  criminal  joined  in  the  chorus.  The  saloons,  hotels, 
drug  stores,  and  all  places  where  liquors  were  sold, 
were  visited.  The  front  doors  of  the  saloons  were 
locked,  dealers  absent,  business  seemed  to  be  closed. 
The  man,  who  was  tried  and  fined  ^25,  afterwards  gave 
up  the  business  and  signed  the  pledge. 

April  14th,  1874,  out  of  a population  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred, eight  hundred  had  enrolled  their  names  on  the 
pledge.  The  five  saloons  in  active  operation  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Crusade  were  all  closed ; hard  cider 
banished  from  the  restaurants,  and  the  druggists 
pledged  to  sell  only  for  mechanical  and  medicinal  pur- 
poses. The  women  thanked  God  and  took  courage. 
Liquors  were  reshipped  or  sold  by  the  sheriff.  Only 
41 


642 


CRUSADE  AT  HOWELL. 


one  of  all  the  saloonists  visited  talked  defiantly  and 
insultingly.  He  was  promptly  arrested  and  dragged 
before  Justice  A.  J.  Southard,  there  to  answer  for  his 
misdemeanor.  All  his  couras^e  forsook  him,  and  under 
the  pretence  of  seeking  a witness  In  the  hall,  he  left 
the  court-room,  dashed  down  the  steps,  and  away, 
and  was  lost  to  the  court  and  the  town.  The  next 
day  two  of  the  ladies,  Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Show- 
man, took  the  train  in  which  he  was  making  good 
his  escape.  In  great  terror,  he  thought  of  jumping 
from  the  cars,  but  was  restrained  by  a friend.  He  is 
now  honestly  laboring  In  an  adjoining  town  for  a 
livelihood. 

The  effect,  however,  of  the  tax  law  was  to  revive  the 
hopes  of  the  liquor  party,  and  make  it  more  difficult  to 
resist  the  tide  of  evil.  But  these  noble  women  are  hold- 
ing the  fort,  and  hopefully  persevering  in  their  labors 
for  universal  sobriety.  Hattie  E.  S.  Cole, 

Chairman  of  Committee  on  History  of  Woman’s 

Temperance  Crusade. 

HOWELL,  AIICHIGAN. 

A society  was  organized  at  this  place,  April,  1874. 
Saloon  visitations  followed.  At  first  every  door  was 
closed  against  the  women,  and  meetlncrs  were  held  on 
the  sidewalks.  No  indlo-nities  were  offered  to  the 

o 

ladies  except  at  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Johnson,  but  he  was 
arrested  and  taken  to  prison.  After  this,  the  saloon 
doors  were  opened,  and  we  held  meetings  in  the 
saloons  for  ten  days,  when  all  the  saloon-keepers 
agreed  to  close.  The  ladies  were  bound  to  believe 

O 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGAN. 


643 


these  promises,  but  every  art  that  wicked  men  could 
devise  was  resorted  to,  to  carry  on  the  traffic  secretly. 
When  interrogated  in  regard  to  the  reports,  they 
would  invariably  deny  that  they  were  selling.  A com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  obtain  evidence,  and  at  the 
session  of  the  grand  jury,  June,  1874,  over  one  hundred 
witnesses  were  sworn,  and  testified  to  having  drank  at 
the  saloons  after  the  promise  was  given  to  the  ladies  to 
quit  selling.  Every  saloon-keeper  in  the  village  was 
indicted.  They  were  required  to  give  bail,  and  there 
it  ended.  A number  of  suits  for  violation  of  the  law 
were  held  before  a justice  of  the  peace,  E.  B.  Gregory. 
All  were  lost  by  the  disagreement  of  the  jury,  except 
one.  The  board  of  supervisors  withheld  the  fees  of 
Squire  Gregory,  because  he  was  a temperance  man. 

All  hopes  of  accomplishing  anything  in  this  direction 
were  cut  off  The  ladies,  though  defeated  in  human 
courts,  were  as  determined  as  ever.  Tracts  were 
written  and  printed,  and  distributed  throughout  the 
town  and  county.  Temperance  prayer-meetings  and 
mass-meetings  were  held,  a children’s  organization 
was  formed,  and  petitions  and  pledges  circulated,  and 
still  they  work  on  and  pray  on,  and  victory  is  crown- 
ing their  efforts.  Mrs.  R.  V.  Huntington, 

Mrs.  H.  G.  W.  Fry, 

Mrs.  S.  T.  Lyon. 

ALLEGAN,  MICHIGAN. 

The  ladies  began  in  this  town,  February  19th,  1874, 
by  sending  a postal  card  to  each  of  the  saloon  proprie- 
tors, urging  them  in  the  name  of  law  and  order  to 


644 


CRUSADE  AT  ALLEGAN. 


cease  their  illegal  traffic,  assuring  them  that  if  they  did 
not  do  so,  more  decided  measures  would  be  taken. 
The  town  was  canvassed  for  workers,  and  on  Wednes- 
day morning,  March  4th,  a consecration  meeting  was 
held  at  the  Presbyterian  Church.  From  the  church  they 
marched  to  Cook’s  saloon,  and  finding  the  door  closed, 
they  held  their  prayer-meeting  in  the  street,  singing 
as  their  battle-song,  “We’re  listed  in  the  holy  war, 
battling  for  the  Lord ; ” and,  “ I’m  glad  I’m  in  this 
army.”  From  thence  the  band  proceeded  to  H.  S. 
Strong’s  saloon.  Above  the  door  was  a black  placard 
bearing  the  words,  “ Closed  for  Prayers.”  The  ladies 
were  admitted,  and  treated  with  deference.  All  the 
saloons  were  visited.  At  the  close  of  the  week  there 
were  two  less  saloons.  Another  man  returned  his 
stock  of  liquors,  and  engaged  in  other  business.  The 
proprietor  of  the  City  Hotel,  being  notified  by  the 
owner  of  the  building  to  cease  the  sale  of  liquors, 
stated  that  he  had  decided  to  keep  a temperance 
house.  A German  saloon-keeper  was  visited:  he  was 
very  uncivil  and  abusive,  and  went  on  with  the  sale  of 
liquor  in  their  presence.  The  ladies  entered  com- 
plaint before  Justice  Babbit,  and  by  his  own  admission 
he  was  convicted  as  a common  seller,  and  fined  fifty 
dollars  and  costs.  Other  suits  followed,  seven  of 
them  damage  suits  for  laro-e  amounts.  In  the  mean- 
time  the  Crusade  band  continued  to  visit  saloons,  and 
hold  religious  exercises,  and  by  the  fourth  week  the 
saloons  were  virtually  closed.  A petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  common  council  for  a prohibitory  law, 
but  the  council  dallied,  deferring  action  from  week  to 


CRUSADE  AT  IONIA. 


645 


week  ; a committee  of  ladies  waited  upon  them  with  a 
petition,  signed  by  two  hundred  of  the  best  citizens, 
urging  prompt  action,  but  when  action  was  taken,  it 
was  adverse.  This  gave  great  encouragement  to  the 
liquor-dealers.  Strong,  who  had  temporarily  aban- 
doned the  business,  rented  a building,  and  flaunted 
from  an  upper  window  the  American  flag  dishonored 
by  the  black  token  of  defiance.  The  ladies  visited 
him,  but  as  he  expressed  a determination  to  go  on 
with  his  business,  they  purchased  some  of  his  liquors, 
and  held  him  to  trial  before  Judge  Babbit,  but  being 
defeated  they  carried  it  up  to  the  Circuit  Court. 
Strong  paid  his  fine  without  trial.  In  a short  time 
twelve  other  dealers  reopened  their  saloons.  They 
were  so  cautious  in  the  beuinninm  that  it  was  difficult 
to  obtain  evidence  ; but  in  a short  time  the  ladies 
commenced  suit  against  all  in  the  business  ; some  were 
gained,  others  lost,  or  the  jury  disagreed. 

Through  all  the  discouraging  circumstances  they 
still  maintain  their  work,  and  pray  and  wait  for 
victory. 

M.  T.  McMartin,  Secretary,  prepared  the  report 
from  which  I have  gleaned  this. 

IONIA,  MICHIGAN. 

A meeting  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the 
15th  March.  At  this  meeting  it  was  affirmed  that 
there  were  one  hundred  men  ready  to  sustain  the 
cause,  but  when  their  zeal  was  put  to  a test  it  was 
found  there  was  scarcely  one  who  was  true.  The 
ladies  organized  and  visited  the  saloons;  some  of  the 


646 


CRUSADE  AT  IONIA. 


saloon-keepers  were  moved  to  tears,  and  expressed  a 
regret  that  they  were  in  the  business.  One  dealer, 
when  they  asked  the  privilege  of  praying  in  his  saloon, 
said : “ If  there  is  any  of  you  without  sin,  let  her 
pray.”  The  ladies,  feeling  that  they  were  in  the  right, 
did  not  hesitate  to  offer  prayer.  One  prominent  whole- 
sale dealer  said,  that  if  there  were  thirty  business  men 
in  the  city  who  desired  that  he  should  close  his  saloon, 
he  would  comply ; others  made  the  same  promise ; 
the  thirty  men,  tiowever,  could  not  be  found.  The  ladies 
then  petitioned  the  common  council:  their  petition  was 
laid  on  the  table.  Undismayed  the  ladies  then  went 
out  into  the  saloons,  and  forbade  the  sale  of  liquor 
after  the  ist  of  May,  which  so  intimidated  the  dealers, 
that  no  liquor  was  sold  publicly  for  several  weeks. 
During  the  time,  agents  from  liquor  houses  visited  the 
city,  but  were  unable  to  sell  a single  barrel  for  three 
months.  One  of  these  agents  offered  a prominent 
lawyer  ^1,000  If  he  would  desert  the  cause  of  the 
ladies,  and  come  out  In  favor  of  the  saloonists,  which, 
be  it  said  to  his  honor,  he  steadily  refused  to  do. 
While  liquors  were  not  sold  publicly,  the  ladies  were 
confident  that  It  was  sold  with  closed  doors.  They 
decided  to  employ  a detective ; Mr.  Willington  C. 
Page  offered  his  home  as  head-quarters  of  this  official, 
and  when  suits  were  brought  against  the  saloonists, 
such  an  excitement  was  created,  that  Mr.  Page  was 
obliged  almost  to  risk  his  life  in  behalf  of  the  detec- 
tive.  The  detective  proved  to  be  a failure,  which 
greatly  discouraged  the  ladles  In  their  active  work; 
yet  their  prayer-meetings  and  efforts  are  kept  up,  and 


CRUSADE  AT  HUDSON. 


647 


the  subject  is  kept  before  the  people.  Three  of  the 
saloon-keepers  have  gone  to  try  the  realities  of 
another  world ; two  have  sold  out,  and  two  have 
abandoned  the  business. 

HUDSON,  MICHIGAN. 

During  the  excitement  caused  by  the  Crusade  in 
Ohio,  the  women  of  Hudson  became  interested  in  the 
temperance  movement,  and  some  time  in  February, 
1874,  formed  a society  known  as  “The  Ladies’  Tem- 
perance Union.” 

The  object  of  this  society  was  to  develop  a better 
public  sentiment,  and  by  directing  attention  to  the 
great  evils  of  intemperance  to  promote  the  cause  of 
temperance. 

About  one  hundred  ladies  joined  the  Union,  and 
worked  ardently. 

The  pastors  of  the  different  churches  gave  their 
support,  and  did  all  in  their  power  to  help  on  the  good 
cause.  It  was  soon  discovered,  however,  that  there 
was  an  element  of  conservatism  manifesting  itself,  and 
many  of  the  workers  were  influenced  by  it,  and  fell 
away.  But  there  was  a faithful  few,  who,  believing 
that  this  work  was  not  of  man,  but  of  God,  worked 
right  on. 

The  town  was  canvassed  for  signers  to  the  pledge. 
They  met  with  much  opposition ; but  about  seven 
hundred  signers  were  secured. 

o 

On  election  day  the  ladies  visited  the  saloon-keepers, 
and  urged  them  to  close  their  saloons.  Some  of 
them  did  as  the  ladies  requested;  but  when  they  re- 


648 


CRUSADE  AT  HUDSON. 


fused,  pickets  were  left  on  watch,  so  that  if  any  did 
drink  they  would  have  to  do  so  in  the  presence  of  the 
ladies.  At  one  place  they  were  ordered  by  the  pro- 
prietor to  leave,  who  gave  them  just  three  minutes  in 
which  to  do  so.  But  one  little  woman,  with  a good  stock 
of  moral  courage,  refused  to  leave,  maintaining  that  it 
was  a place  of  public  resort,  and  that  if  her  husband 
and  brothers  could  come  and  stay  there,  so  could  she, 
and  she  would  do  so. 

Several  saloons  closed ; but  one  place  where  they 
promised  to  close,  but  did  not,  the  ladies  went  on 
picket  duty.  The  proprietor  sent  out  for  a lot  of 
rowdies,  and  offered  segars  free  to  all  who  would 
smoke.  They  smoked  until  the  people  outside  thought 
the  place  was  on  fire.  The  ladles  were  asked  to  leave, 
but  declined  to  do  so  unless  the  saloon  was  closed.  ^ 
Finally,  when  the  men  could  stand  it  no  longer,  the 
saloon  was  closed. 

The  ladles  entered  suit  against  a saloon-keeper  for 
selling  to  a young  man  contrary  to  the  prohibition  law, 
and  won  the  suit;  the  saloon-keeper  having  to  pay 
the  fine  and  costs. 

The  ladies  did  not  do  much  saloon  visiting,  but  have 
quietly  worked  on  in  whatever  way  they  felt  that  the 
Lord  called  them. 

Nearly  all  owners  of  real  estate  signed  a pledge 
not  to  rent  their  property  to  be  used  for  the  purpose 
of  selling  intoxicating  liquors.  One  saloon-keeper, 
on  going  to  pay  his  rent,  and  renew  his  lease,  to  his 
disgust,  found  that  his  landlord  had  signed  the 
woman’s  pledge,  and  could  not  let  him  have  it.  A 


CRUSADE  AT  MORENCI. 


649 


lawsuit  ensued,  but  the  saloon-keeper  was  ejected, 
and  the  room  thoroughly  cleaned  and  repainted,  and 
the  first  use  made  of  it  was  for  a strawberry  festival 
given  by  the  ladies  of  the  Union. 

There  is  a better  temperance  sentiment  here  than 
when  the  Union  was  organized.  The  temperance 
workers  are  watching  and  praying  for  a day  when  the 
friends  of  temperance  can  praise  the  Lord  who  giveth 
the  victory  to  those  who  trust  in  His  almighty  power. 

MORENCI,  MICHIGAN. 

March  i8th,  1874,  the  ladies  organized  a Woman’s 
Temperance  Union,  with  their  membership  numbering 
thirty-seven,  which  was  subsequently  increased  to  over 
one  hundred.  After  some  preliminary  work,  they 
began  to  visit  the  saloons,  but  the  proprietors  all  re- 
fused to  sign  the  pledge.  These  visits  to  the  saloons 
continued  till  March  28th,  when  three  of  the  principal 
dealers  signed  the  dealers’  pledge.  There  was  great 
joy  and  thanksgiving  over  this.  The  next  day  being 
Sabbath,  a praise  meeting  was  held.  In  the  midst  of 
the  praise  meeting,  a gentleman  arose  and  said  that 
he  had  been  informed,  that  in  violation  of  their 
pledges,  in  less  than  ten  minutes  after  they  left,  the 
dealers  were  selling.  One  of  them  was  present,  and 
was  appealed  to.  He  personally  denied  it,  and  said  that 
he  would  rather  beg  than  sell  intoxicating  drink ; but 
afterwards  they  proved  this  man  guilty  of  selling  in 
violation  of  his  pledge. 

The  dealers  were  prosecuted,  but  the  work  was 
greatly  hindered  by  unfaithful  officers.  The  women 


650  CRUSADE  AT  FLINT. 

are  looking  to  God,  and  with  strong  cries  and  tears 
are  pleading  for  the  overthrow  of  this  traffic. 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Day. 

FLINT,  MICHIGAN. 

A young  lady  in  this  city  who  had  consecrated  her- 
self to  the  Foreign  Missionary  work,  and  was  very 
much  beloved  for  the  purity  of  her  life  and  her  Chris- 
tian zeal,  coming  out  of  the  church  one  night,  just  be- 
fore she  left  for  heathen  lands,  a man  addicted  to 
drink  accosted  her  and  gave  her  ten  dollars.  She  with 
others  commenced  praying  for  his  conversion,  and 
shortly  afterwards  he  went  to  the  pastor  of  one  of  the 
churches,  and  with  deep  emotion  asked,  “What  shall  I 
do  to  be  saved  ? ” He  was  saved,  and  the  church  was 
stirred  with  interest  for  others.  Still  no  one  thought 
of  organizing  for  the  work,  until  the  proprietor  of  the 
City  Hotel  sent  an  invitation  for  a prayer-meeting  to 
be  held  in  his  sitting-room.  This  was  regarded  as  a 
very  peculiar  request  coming  from  him  ; the  house  was 
considered  the  lowest  place  in  town — a whiskey  den. 
His  wife  was  a Roman  Catholic.  A lady  volunteered 
to  go  and  see  if  he  was  in  earnest;  she  found  that  the 
invitation  was  given  in  good  faith,  and  that  the  wife 
concurred ; an  appointment  was  made  for  the  next 
morning,  but  when  the  ladies  went  to  hold  the  meet- 
ing, none  but  ladies  were  there,  and  the  proprietor 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  enter  the  room.  Out  of 
this  movement  o^rew  the  Crusade. 

A meeting  was  called,  a society  organized,  and  the 
ladies  held  a series  of  mass-meetings  in  the  Presby- 


CRUSADE  AT  LESLIE.  65  I 

terian  Church  for  about  a week ; but  on  Saturday 
night  following  these  gospel  mass-meetings,  the  church 
was  fired  by  the  hand  of  an  incendiary.  The  people 
were  astonished  and  indignant ; they  decided  at  once 
to  commence  the  Crusade.  Their  first  visit  was  to  the 
saloon  where  they  had  held  the  prayer-meeting,  but 
they  were  not  admitted.  They  went  from  saloon  to 
saloon  day  after  day,  until  whiskey-selling  and  whis- 
key-drinking were  exceedingly  unpopular  in  Flint. 
Mrs.  C.  Morrison  bought  the  stock  of  liquors  of  one 
man  who  was  willing  to  sell  out,  breaking  the  first 
bottle  herself.  As  the  liquors  were  emptied  into  the 
gutter,  a poor,  bloated  wretch,  scooping  the  dirty  stuff 
in  his  hands,  drank  it,  utterly  regardless  of  the  filth  it 
had  passed  through.  Some  one  told  Mrs.  Morrison 
she  had  “paid  too  much  for  that  liquor.”  Looking 
him  earnestly  in  the  face,  she  replied,  with  great  com- 
posure, “ I know  that,  sir ; I should  have  been  cheated 
if  I had  only  paid  twenty-five  cents.” 

One  dealer  turned  his  saloon  into  a temperance 
restaurant,  but  was  still  greatly  influenced  by  the 
liquor-dealers.  Prosecutions  were  commenced,  but 
efforts  in  that  direction  were  found  to  be  useless. 
The  ladies  are  praying  and  waiting,  hopefully,  pa- 
tiently, for  the  coming  victory. 

Mrs.  E.  Clark,  Secretary. 

LESLIE,  MICHIGAN. 

The  women  of  this  town,  aided  and  encouraged  by 
the  pastors  of  the  several  churches,  organized  April 
I St,  1874.  A canvass  of  the  town  was  made  for 


652 


CRUSADE  AT  LESLIE, 


pledges.  A petition,  largely  signed  by  the  citizens, 
asking  for  a prohibitory  ordinance,  was  presented  to 
the  city  council  by  a committee  of  eighteen  ladies.  It 
was  graciously  received,  but  never  acted  upon. 

April  23d,  the  ladies  commenced  saloon  visitations. 
Their  first  visit  was  to  Daniel  Mitchell’s,  who  refused 
admittance,  but  conducted  them  to  his  hotel ; so  their 
first  meeting  was  held  In  the  Allen  House.  Other 
saloons  were  visited  during  the  day.  On  the  25th, 
they  went  from  the  prayer-meeting  with  the  purpose 
to  visit  every  saloon.  At  the  Metropolitan  saloon, 
Mr.  Mitchell  himself  rudely  helped  each  lady  out  of  his 
saloon,  but  they  continued  in  prayer  on  the  pavement, 
unconscious  of  the  jeering,  mocking  crowd  gathered 
about  them.  To  the  eye  of  faith,  to-day,  as  in  Joshua’s 
time,  giants  become  as  grasshoppers.  At  the  second 
saloon,  they  were  reluctantly  admitted,  and  allowed  to 
hold  their  services  without  violence. 

At  one  hotel,  McDaniels,  the  proprietor,  ordered 
the  ladies  from  his  waiting-room  into  the  parlor,  and 
did  not  hesitate  to  push  them  over  some  who  were 
already  kneeling  in  prayer.  At  a drug  store  where 
liquor  w'as  sold  in  all  quantities,  the  ladies  were  refused 
the  privilege  of  prayer.  Of  course  the  devil  was  very 
much  insulted,  and  raged  and  foamed,  because  his 
business  was  interfered  with ; but  the  erace  of  God 
was  sufficient  for  His  workers.  That  evening  Mr. 
Brown,  the  proprietor  of  the  best  hotel  in  the  town, 
sent  in  a notice,  to  be  read  in  the  church,  that  he  had 
closed  his  bar.  The  large  audience  arose  and  sang, 
with  the  Spirit, 

“All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’  name.” 


CRUSADE  AT  DOWAGIAC. 


653 


On  Monday  evening,  April  27th,  every  bar  was  closed, 
and  widi  joyful  hearts  the  workers  gave  to  their  God 
all  the  glory ; for  the  same  power  that  stopped  the 
mouths  of  lions  closed  these  gates  of  death.  But  in 
the  midst  of  victory  and  thanksgiving,  one  of  our 
leaders  and  counsellors  suddenly  became  fearful,  and 
full  of  sympathy  for  the  rum-sellers.  He  feared  a mis- 
take had  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  women  in  not 
waiting  for  the  rum-sellers  to  become  converted.  So 
he  began  to  prophesy  that  the  work  would  not  last, 
which  comforted  and  encouraged  the  enemy,  and 
brought  sorrow  and  trouble  to  the  friends  of  temper- 
ance. But  only  one  saloon  continues  to  sell,  and  they 
are  laboring  and  praying  for  its  overthrow,  and  they 
expect  that  saloon  will  be  closed,  if  not  through  the 
mercies,  by  the  judgments,  of  God. 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Taylor,  President. 

Mrs.  Phebe  Earl,  Secretary. 

DOWAGIAC,  MICHIGAN. 

The  work  began  in  this  town  in  the  spring  of  1874. 
An  organization  was  effected  April  24th  of  the  same 
year.  Mass-meetings  were  held  in  several  churches 
alternately;  liquor-dealers  were  visited,  and  urged  to 
abandon  their  disreputable  business,  but  with  no 
results.  Finally  the  prosecution  of  liquor-dealers 
under  the  prohibitory  law  was  determined  upon. 
Ninety-eight  temperance  men  came  forward  and 
pledged  their  influence  in  the  movement.  A com- 
mittee of  gentlemen  was  appointed  to  assist  the  ladies 
in  securinof  information  to  convict  the  law-breakers. 


654 


CRUSADE  AT  DOWAGIAC. 


The  prosecuting  committee  worked  with  great  zeal, 
but  were  constantly  embarrassed,  and  often  thwarted, 
their  persons  and  property  being  in  danger  from  the 
cowardly  and  malicious  attacks  from  the  rum-seller  and 
the  band  of  ruffians  and  robbers  who  stood  ready  to 
do  his  biddinm  As  visfilant  and  zealous  as  were  these 
prosecutors,  they  were  more  than  matched  by  the 
whiskey-sellers.  A rumor  was  started  that  the  taxes 
of  the  county  would  be  largely  increased  by  these 
trials,  with  a view  of  alarming  tax-payers.  The  follow- 
inof  fio-ures  from  the  official  records  will  show  how 
baseless  this  assertion  was.  The  fines  and  collections 
secured  through  the  Crusade  were  ^803.85  ; while  the 
costs  to  the  county  were  only  ^148.02  ; leaving  a bal- 
ance, $655.83.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  experi- 
ment of  enforcing  the  prohibitory  law  was  not  a fail- 
ure. No  less  than  five  of  those  who  were  selling, 
when  the  work  began,  had  been  effectually  closed  up, 
while  the  others  were  forced  to  transfer  their  business 
to  prevent  action  that  would  take  them  to  the  county 
jail. 

The  passage  of  the  tax  law,  which  was  equivalent  to 
the  repeal  of  the  prohibitory  law,  again  gave  the  rum- 
sellers  hope,  and  once  more  the  front  doors  were 
thrown  open,  and  the  work  of  death  carried  on  pub- 
licly. But  the  women  are  earnest  and  hopeful,  and 
are  lonofinof  and  waitino"  for  the  time  when  a grreat 
people  in  their  wrath  shall  decree  the  overthrow  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Farr,  Secretary. 


rum. 


CRUSADE  AT  COLON. 


655 


COLON,  MICHIGAN. 

The  ladies  of  diis  place  went  into  the  Crusade  work 
with  heart  and  hope,  being  well  backed  up  by  the 
men,  who  promised  to  furnish  money  for  prosecutions, 
and  to  protect  them  from  insult. 

One  instance  is  worthy  of  notice.  It  was  town- 
meeting day,  and  three  ladies  were  sent  to  the  hotel 
to  try  to  get  signatures  to  the  pledge,  and  to  persuade 
those  who  came  In  not  to  drink.  Their  presence  very 
much  incensed  the  proprietor,  who  sent  out  for  segars 
and  offered  them  free  to  all  who  would  smoke  with  him. 
A number  of  half-drunken,  low  fellows,  complied  with 
his  request,  and  soon  the  room  was  dense  with  smoke, 
but  the  ladies  paid  no  attention  to  it.  Cayenne  pep- 
per was  then  put  upon  the  stove,  and,  finally,  asafoet- 
ida.  The  men  coughed  and  sneezed,  and  had  to 
rush  out  In  self-defence,  but  strange  to  say,  not  one 
lady  either  coughed  or  sneezed  the  whole  five  hours 
they  were  confined  in  the  room. 

They  have  succeeded  In  elevating  public  sentiment, 
and  know  that  they  have  effected  permanent  good  in 
their  town. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  work  of  the  Crusade  was  carried  forward  with 
more  or  less  success  in  the  following  towns:  Tecum- 
seh,  Rockford,  Rollln,  Clinton,  Ann  Arbor,  Hillsdale, 
Olivet,  Mason,  White  Pigeon,  Whitehall,  Big  Rapids, 
and  Hart. 

During  the  year  1877  Dr.  Reynolds  labored  in 
Michigan.  The  work  began  at  Adrian,  the  home  of 
Mrs.  Geddes,  Vice-President  of  the  National  Union, 


656 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


who  aided  greatly  in  securing  its  success.  Tens  of 
thousands  of  men  of  all  classes  signed  the  pledge  and 
donned  the  red  ribbon.  Reform  Clubs  were  organ- 
ized in  nearly  every  town,  and  such  was  the  enthusi- 
asm that  followed,  and  so  thoroughly  aroused  were 
the  masses  of  the  people,  that  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  passed  a concurrent  resolution,  by  a unanimous 
vote,  thanking  Dr.  Reynolds  for  the  services  he  had 
rendered  the  State,  in  emptying  the  jails  and  alms- 
houses, and  in  lessening  crime  and  disorder.  Many 
of  the  men  who  fought  against  the  Crusade,  and  helped 
to  sustain  the  liquor-dealers,  are  now  pledged  temper- 
ance men. 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Geddes  reports  nearly  two  hundred  Re- 
form Clubs,  with  a constituency  of  a hundred  thousand; 
public  sentiment  strongly  on  the  side  of  temperance; 
pulpit  and  press  favorable;  churches  and  ministers  co- 
operating; unfermented  wine  almost  universally  in 
use;  temperance  societies  in  a flourishing  condition; 
and  reading-rooms  connected  with  most  of  the  Reform 
Clubs. 


WISCONSIN,  MINNESOTA;  IOWA, 
AND  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

WISCONSIN. 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Steele,  Vice-President  of  the  National 
Union,  says: 

By  the  persistent  aid  of  the  women  of  our  societies 
in  some  localities,  the  voters  have  been  able  to  elect 
non-license  boards,  and  there  is  a growing  sentiment 
throughout  the  State  in  favor  of  such  legislation.  The 

o o 

cause  has  been  presented  before  the  State  S.  S.  Con- 
vention, Congregational  Association  and  State  Christian 
Assembly  at  Geneva  Lake.  The  tone  of  the  press  Is 
improving,  and  churches  are  more  pronounced  In  their 
advocacy  of  active  temperance  work.  Five  temper- 
ance reading-rooms  are  connected  with  as  many 
Unions,  and  at  Racine  a self-supporting  lunch-room  Is 
added  ; and  a boys’  reading-room,  which  is  well  patron- 
ized by  the  class  for  whom  it  is  designed. 

RIPON,  WISCONSIN. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  C.  B.  Woodward,  and  the 
Ripon  papers,  for  the  following  facts : 

on  is  a bright  little  city  of  about  four  thousand 
42  (657) 


658 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


inhabitants.  Being-  the  seat  of  Ripon  College,  many 
cultured  families  had  settled  here  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  unsurpassed  educational  facilities  afforded  by 
this  institution,  which,  in  addition  to  the  usual  endow- 
ments, has  an  observatory,  a fine  telescope,  and  an  as- 
tronomical clock.  Like  other  Western  cities,  there  is  a 
large  German  element.  In  common  with  other  towns, 
the  blight  of  the  liquor  traffic  is  found  here. 

Feeling  the  bitterness  of  this  curse,  Christian  women 
had  watched  the  progress  of  the  Ohio  Crusade  with 
mingled  emotions  of  fear  and  hope,  and  while  it  gath- 
ered volume  and  strength,  felt  that  they  could  never 
engage  in  a work  so  unwomanly.  Yet  conscience 
whispered,  “ If  God  makes  that  work  your  duty,  you 
will  not  refuse.” 

The  ladies  responded  to  a call  for  a meeting,  and 
preliminary  steps  were  taken  for  the  formation  of  a 
society.  Other  meetings  resulted  in  the  organization 
of  the  Ripon  Woman’s  Temperance  League,  Mrs.  E. 
H.  Merrill,  of  Ripon  College,  being  President.  At  one 
of  the  first  meetings  an  invitation  from  a saloonist  was 
received,  for  the  ladies  to  hold  a meeting  in  his  saloon. 
Volunteers  were  called  for.  All  honor  to  those  who 
first  stepped  into  the  then  untried  waters,  namely, 
Mesdames  Harris,  Strong,  Wirt,  Sherman,  Jones,  Cun- 
ningham, and  Miss  McAssey  and  Miss  Chittenden. 
They  went  out,  as  they  go  who  offer  sacrifice,  and 
those  who  remained  knelt  in  solemn  awe  and  implored 
God  to  protect  and  bless  these  their  sisters.  The 
meeting  was  successful,  for  surely  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  was  with  us. 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON, 


659 


Invitations  from  other  saloons  were  responded  to, 
and  the  praying  band  increased  in  numbers,  until  it 
counted  forty,  seventy-five,  and  one  hundred.  Mrs. 
Wirt,  Mrs.  Merrill,  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  appointed 
leaders.  A room  on  the  street  was  provided,  from 
which,  after  an  hour  of  prayer,  the  band  would  issue, 
two  and  two,  receiving  the  salutations  of  the  brethren 
who  had  assembled  to  pray  during  their  absence,  and 
await  their  return,  bringing  with  them  a multitude  that 
always  followed.  Then  an  hour  or  more  would  be  spent 
in  singing,  prayer,  and  appeal,  mostly  by  the  women, 
who  soon  found  that  upon  them  God  had  laid  this  work. 

Often,  the  very  women  who  had  declared  that  they 
could  not  go  to  the  saloons  would  be  seen  marching 
with  the  band,  and  kneeling  in  a saloon.  Women  who 
had  never  even  tried  to  speak  or  pray  outside  of  their 
own  homes  were  moving  rough  men  to  tears  with 
.words  of  tender  eloquence.  Every  afternoon  the  city 
was  thronged  by  eager,  wondering  crowds;  and  many 
wept  as  the  consecrated  ones  passed  by,  with  calm 
purpose  and  measured  tread. 

A report  for  a Mllwaukie  paper  says,  March  30th: 

“ RIpon  seems  likely  to  vindicate  a claim  to  be  the 
leader  in  the  temperance  war  in  Wisconsin,  being  the 
theatre  of  the  first  organized  effort  in  this  State  to 
quell  intemperance  by  what  Is  known  as  ‘the  woman’s 
movement.’  Besides  the  eagerness  everywhere  appa- 
rent to  read  the  latest  published  accounts,  private 
letters  are  received  from  all  quarters,  asking  for  in- 
formation on  all  points. 

“It  is  but  justice  to  the  ladies  to  say,  that  no  woman 


66o 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


has  violated  any  propriety,  on  account  of  which  she 
need,  on  mature  reflection,  to  be  ashamed.  The 
saloons,  dufing’  the  meetings,  have  been  crowded  with 
rough  and  unfortunate  men,  but  the  ladies  have  uni- 
formly commanded  their  attention,  the  larger  part  of 
the  meetings  being  given  to  little  temperance  ad- 
dresses. During  these  appeals  the  attention  has  been 
absolute,  the  stillness  profound,  and  eyes  that  rarely 
weep  have  been  filled  with  tears. 

“A  band  of  ladies  kneeling  on  the  street,  praying 
Heaven  that  the  venders  of  liquor  would  quit  their 
business,  while  not  more  than  a hundred  feet  from 
them,  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  a crowd  of 
excited  men  are  ‘devising  ways  of  baffling  the  traffic 
at  the  polls,’  is  a sight,  the  like  of  which  few  have 
seen. 

“ To  see  these  same  women  enter  an  underorround 

o 

room,  filled  with  men  of  low  desires  and  aspirations, 
and  with  song,  prayer,  and  pleading,  in  a few  minutes 
reduce  them  to  the  state  of  teachable  children,  stand- 
inof  waitinor  for  orders,  with  their  hats  under  their 
arms,  is  a lesson  well  worth  the  learning.  These 
things  are  seen  here,  and  a hundred  others,  that  no 
one  can  tell  with  the  force  they  carry  to  the  eye.  To 
some,  these  things  wear  the  aspect  of  sublimity ; to 
others,  of  fanaticism  and  bigotry.  This  gendeness 
and  persuasiveness  of  appeal  has  re-enacted  a scene 
memorable  of  old : ‘ The  poor  have  the  gospel 

preached  to  them.’  This  one  result  has  probably  paid 
for  all  the  cost  thus  far.  The  most  persuasive  and 
gentle  preaching  has  reached  the  rudest  ears,  and  it 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


66l 


some  are  not  reformed,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  others 
will  be  better  men  for  the  rest  of  their  lives.” 

But  some  have  been  reformed,  and  some  converted. 

“Another  patent  result  is  the  effect  on  public  senti- 
ment. Men  are  taking  sides  in  a way  to  suggest  the 
force  of  the  old  Washingtonian  revival ; and  many 
that  were  before  half-and-half  on  the  subject,  now 
chivalrously  and  openly  declare  for  the  cause  of  the 
ladies.  And  this  avowed  sentiment  is  now  focussed 
on  the  saloons  and  their  incorrigible  supporters,  in 
such  a way  as  to  deal  most  stinging  rebuke.  It  is 
known  that  the  sample  gentlemen  are  deeply  troubled, 
some  of  them  ashamed,  and  would  doubtless  quit  the 
business,  if  they  did  not  hope  this  storm  would  soon 
blow  over.” 

Many  young  men,  and  old  ones  too,  feared  to  enter 
a saloon,  lest  two  or  three  ladies  might  call  and  find 
them  there  ; and  one  evening  a rumor  that  the  ladies 
were  going  to  make  the  rounds,  was  sufficient  to 
empty  every  saloon  in  the  city. 

“Mrs.  Cook  and  Mrs.  Graham  expressed  ‘a  firm 
determination  to  trust  in  God  and  go  forward,  even  if 
arrested,’  as  was  then  threatened  and  expected. 
Gentlemen  were  in  full  sympathy,  ‘ and  in  a few  min- 
utes pledged  ^i,o8o,  and  any  further  amount  that 
might  be  needed  to  protect  and  defend  the  sisters.’ 

“An  enormous  mass-meeting  was  held,  which,  per- 
haps, was  the  most  extraordinary  ever  held  in  this 
section  of  the  State.  Addressed  by  Mrs.  Tracy,  Mrs. 
Haire,  Mrs,  Woodward,  and  Mrs.  Cook.  President 
Merriman,  of  Ripon  College,  dealt  out  facts  and  argu- 


662 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


merits,  riglit  and  left,  with  a closing  appeal  to  voters, 
which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.” 

A petition  to  the  liquor-dealers,  signed  by  nearly 
six  hundred  names,  was  presented  to  them,  but  in 
vain.  Pledges  for  business  men  were  signed  by  many. 
An  intemperate  man,  “ who  must  stop  or  die,”  signed 
this  pledge  and  was  saved.  Personal  pledges  were 
circulated,  and  young  ladies  fell  into  line  with  their 
pledges.  As  the  city  election  drew  near,  the  excite- 
ment increased.  Being  shut  out  of  the  saloons,  on 
the  plea  *•  that  the  ladies  were  ruining  the  business,” 
the  Crusaders  knelt  on  the  pavement,  using  great  care 
about  obstructing  the  way. 

One  day  a German,  with  consternation  depicted  on 
his  pale  face,  and  with  drooping  figure,  muttered,  while 
a lady  was  praying  before  his  saloon : “ What  sail  I 
do  ? If  dese  vomans  keeps  cornin’  here  I must  go 
away ! ” A druggist,  who  sold  liquor  covertly,  was 
literally  prayed  out  of  the  city,  and  retreated  in  con- 
fusion, selling  his  stock,  for  “ those  Amazons  had 
ruined  his  trade,  by  making  him  so  conspicuous.” 
The  meetings  increased  in  interest  and  solemnity  every- 
day, while  the  streets  were  thronged  with  people  and 
teams.  The  liquor  traffic  decreased  seventy-five  per 
cent.  The  mayor  sympathized  with  the  work,  and 
insured  order  by  the  presence  of  a strong  police  force, 
while  the  band  was  out,  although  some  of  the  saloon- 
ists  encouraged  men  to  disturb  the  meetings,  and  gave 
liquor  to  such  as  wished,  without  charge.  One  day, 
finding  that  a saloonist  was  encouraging  men  to  jostle 
and  incommode  those  who  were  kneeling,  two  ladies 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


663 

Stepped  into  the  doorway,  at  his  side.  “ Sir,  will  you 
be  kind  enough  to  close  your  door?”  He  continued 
to  open  it,  to  let  men  in  and  out,  by  thrusting  his  hand 
behind  the  ladies.  “Sir,  shall  -we  pass  right  in?” 
“No!  No!  Mein  house  is  mein  castle.  You  go  not 
in.  You  go  not  too  far ! ” 

“Then  please  keep  your  door  shut.”  He  carefully 
obeyed.  At  another  time  a respectable  (?)  man  urged 
his  horse  upon  the  band  as  they  were  marching. 

The  animal  broke  the  carriage  in  his  frantic  opposi- 
tion to  the  oaths  and  lash  of  his  master.  It  was  said, 
“an  angel”  restrained  the  horse.  And  his  owner 

declared  that  “those  women  would  not  scare !” 

Not  a breath  came  quicker,  not  a foot  faltered,  or 
missed  step,  but  on  swept  the  consecrated  ones,  with 
placid  brows,  and  gentle  mien ; and  quietly  the  voice 
of  singing  and  prayer  was  heard  before  a saloon 
underneath  the  hotel  owned  and  occupied  by  this 
man’s  son. 

On  election  day,  April  7th,  the  Crusaders  spent  the 
hours  of  voting,  in  prayer  at  their  room;  and  in  quietly 
visiting  voters  and  circulating  tickets.  Two  of  them 
called  on  an  old  man,  sick,  poor,  and  intemperate. 

They  solicited  his  vote  for  temperance ; a saloonist 
and  satellite  enters ; one  lady  retires,  and  the  new 
visitors  speak  in  honeyed  words  to  their  victim  ; while 
engaged  in  convincing  “ Josh  ” of  the  importance  of 
voting  for  his  liberty  and  his  cigar,  a carriage  appears 
at  the  door,  and  the  ladies  invite  “Josh  ” to  ride.  The 
combat  becomes  warmer  and  warmer ; soon  another 
vehicle  appears ; this  has  no  lady-driver.  “Josh”  must 


664 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


decide;  “Josh”  reflects;  thinks  of  the  life  the  saloon 
men  have  led  him,  and  agrees  to  vote  the  temperance 
ticket.  The  lady  and  “Josh”  ride;  they  arrive  at  the 
polls ; the  poor  man  is  too  weak  to  ascend  the  stairs  ; 
but  the  ballot  box  can  go  down-stairs  to  “Josh,”  which 
it  does,  and  he  deposits  a temperance  ticket;  his  last 
work.  The  Crusaders  cared  for  his  comfort  a few 
weeks,  then  followed  him  to  his  burial. 

A large  importation  of  voters  defeated  the  temper- 
ance ticket,  and  whiskey  was  jubilant. 

The  new  council  was  visited,  and  addressed  by 
Mesdanies  Smith,  Wirt,  Jones,  Harris,  and  Haire,  peti- 
tioning that  body  to  use  its  power  to  lessen  the  liquor 
traffic  in  the  city.  Their  pleading  was  in  vain  ; inas- 
much as  the  majority  of  the  city  fathers  favored  the  use 
and  abuse  of  intoxicants.  Neither  could  the  Crusaders 
hope  for  protection  as  heretofore. 

But  undismayed  the  ladies  continued  the  meetings 
before  the  saloons,  although  greeted  with  bells,  gongs, 
etc.,  by  the  now  exultant  saloon  men.  Threats  of 
arrests  and  of  riots  were  frequent.  An  alderman  said 
to  one,  “ I don’t  like  to  have  you  go  where  we  can’t 
protect  you.”  “ Sir,  I call  upon  you  as  a city  officer 
to  protect  me : I shall  infringe  no  law.”  He  advocated 
license. 

The  point  long  mooted  of  placing  a watch  on  saloons 
was  tested,  three  ladies  volunteering  to  sit  in  one  for 
fifteen  minutes,  which  they  did.  The  proprietor  led 
them  out  one  by  one,  taking  the  greatest  care  to  do 
so  in  the  most  gentle  manner. 

Patrols,  consisting  of  ten  ladies  in  each,  of  seven 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON. 


665 


bands,  were  organized  for  street  work.  Many  amus- 
inof  incidents  enlivened  the  work,  which  was  continued 
as  long  as  the  heat  of  the  summer  permitted.  Many 
men  lost  their  morninor  bitters  through  vigilance  of  the 
early  morning  watch.  Many  baskets  were  carried, 
ostensibly  for  shavings  or  groceries,  long  before  shop 
or  grocery  was  open.  Men  who  were  out  often  apolo- 
gized for  being  on  the  street  so  early,  and  saloonists 
were  kept  in  a state  of  agony,  at  the  loss  of  their 
morning  trade,  and  watched  the  lady  patrol  from 
every  corner.  At  one  saloon  a large  dog  was  ordered 
to  guard  a piece  of  meat  that  was  laid  on  the  walk. 
When  the  two  ladies  walked  close  by  him,  he  wagged 
his  tail  in  recognition  of  the  hand  that  caressed  him  at 
a saloon  meeting ; but  he  bit  the  next  passer-by. 

Eggs  were  dropped  from  upper  windows,  but  failed 
to  hit.  Dirty  water  and  sprinklers  were  got  ready,  but 
failed  in  execution.  Threats  of  pitfalls  and  broken 
limbs  w'ere  heard,  but  no  one  was  injured. 

Early,  in  the  work  pledges  of  ^10  were  solicited 
from  ladies,  and  about  $700  was  obtained,  with  which 
a room  was  rented  and  furnished  for  a free  reading- 
room.  Papers  and  good  popular  reading  were  pro- 
vided, and  the  library  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  was  loaned  to  the  room. 

A gospel  temperance  meeting  was  instituted  in  the 
reading-room,  in  the  winter  of  1875,  and  with  few  in- 
terruptions has  been  continued  with  increased  interest 
until  the  present  time.  An  open  meeting  is  held  under 
the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Woodward,  with  Mrs.  Sherman, 
singer.  Young  Christians  who  like  to  ^^sing  for 


666 


CRUSADE  AT  RIPON, 


y'estis,”  kindly  assist  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music, 
winning  the  attention  and  presence  of  many  Sabbath 
loungrers.  . “ 

During  the  last  year,  a record  of  requests  for 
prayer,  with  their  answers,  has  been  kept.  God  has 
honored  this  record  by  answering  seventy-five  per 
cent,  of  the  requests  written  there.  On  one  occasion 
three  men  requested  the  leader  to  record  their  con- 
version, in  answer  to  petitions  placed  there.  Mention 
might  be  made  of  men  reclaimed  and  converted,  of 
saloons  obliterated,  and  of  noisy  demonstrations 
silenced;  but  it  is  enough  to  say,  that  earnest  Chris- 
tians utter  the  prayer  of  faith,  taking  God’s  promises 
just  as  they  are  given:  and  they  find  them  “yea  and 
amen.” 

A Band  of  Hope  was  organized  in  the  spring  of 
1875,  which  soon  numbered  about  200  members,  and 
is  a pleasant  and  profitable  meeting  for  the  children. 

The  Crusade  is  still  moving  on,  though  constantly 
changing  in  mode  of  work  and  action.  The  principle 
is  active,  and,  like  the  woman’s  “leaven,”  will  per- 
meate the  whole  mass  of  human  thoug-ht.  The  read- 
ing-rooms,  the  social  organizations,  the  gospel  meet- 
ings, and  bands  of  hope,  are  all  necessary  branches 
of  one  noble  work. 

Men  and  women  of  to-day  can  never  stand  where 
they  did  three  years  ago.  Public  sentiment  has  been 
and  still  is  fast  deepening  and  widening — each  day 
receiving  new  additions  of  light  and  power.  The 
growing  and  alarming  necessity  of  cleansing  the  foun- 
tain, of  legislating  on  the  great  sin  and  curse  ot  the 
times,  is  now  freely  acknowledged. 


CRUSADE  IN  MINNESOTA. 


667 


“The  evidences  of  the  Crusade  cannot  be  obliter- 
ated.” Its  full  results  can  never  be  estimated  in 
earthly  numbers,  or  sketched  with  mortal  pen,  but 
must  be  left  to  eternity  to  disclose. 


MINNESOTA. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Hackett,  Vice-President  State  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  reports: 

Local  Option  prevails  in  Minnesota.  The  tone  of 
public  sentiment  and  of  the  press  is  favorable  to  tem- 
perance. 

The  Sons  of  Temperance  and  Good  Templars  have 
organizations  in  all  towns  of  any  considerable  size. 
Reform  Clubs  have  been  organized  during  the  past 
five  months  in  all  the  large  towns,  and  there  are  a few 
Juvenile  Temples. 

The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Unions  in  the 
State  number  271;  $1,009.35  have  been  raised  by 
the  local  Unions;  two  temperance  reading-rooms  have 
been  established,  and  three  petitions  circulated.  In 
the  Sunday-school  17,000  children  have  been  pledged. 

The  main  work  of  the  year  1877  has  been  done 
through  Mr.  Thomas  N.  Doutney,  brought  here  by 
the  Women’s  Unions.  Never  before  has  there  been 
such  activity  in  the  cause. 

In  towns  settled  by  Americans  there  is  usually  a 
public  sentiment  in  favor  of  temperance,  and  in  larger 
towns,  since  Mr.  Doutney’s  work  began,  the  prevail- 
ing feeling  inclines  toward  Prohibition.  The  Sunday- 


668 


CRUSADE  IN  IOWA. 


School  Temperance  League  now  numbers  17,000, 
having  obtained  7,000  pledges  the  past  year. 


IOWA. 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Stevens,  Vice-President,  reports: 

Seventy-five  auxiliary  Unions.  The  total  member- 
ship is  2,000. 

Seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-one  have 
signed  the  pledge  since  1876;  thirty  juvenile  organiza- 
tions have  been  formed,  with  over  3,000  members. 

Over  ^2,000  have  been  raised  by  the  Unions;  $247 
paid  to  the  State,  ^38  to  the  National  Society.  There 
are  twenty  Temperance  Reading-Rooms,  one  Friendly 
Inn  or  Coffee-House. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Aldrich  has  been  employed  as  State 
Organizer.  The  Reform  Clubs  are  multiplying. 
These  are  doing  a grand  work — searching  saloons 
and  emptying  whiskey-barrels.  They  know  just  where 
to  find  and  how  to  deal  with  whiskey. 

Petitions  have  been  prepared  and  circulated  widely. 
Frequent  conventions  and  mass-meetings  have  been 
held;  public  conventions  by  reformed  men;  temper- 
ance sermons  by  the  clergy;  weekly  temperance 
prayer-meetings — all  these  efforts  have  been  made 
not  without  success. 

The  Conferences  of  the  hi.  E.  Church  have  been 
visited,  also  of  the  United  Brethren,  the  Presbyter}^ 
the  Concrrecfational  State  Association,  the  State  S.  S. 
Assembly,  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  State 


CRUSADE  IN  IOWA.  669 

Agricultural  Society,  all  with  success  and  encourage- 
ment, save  the  last  named. 

As  a rule,  unfermented  wine  is  used  in  the  churches 
for  communion  purposes.  The  Good  Templars  are 
actively  engaged  in  the  work. 

Taken  all  in  all,  the  cause  of  temperance  in  Iowa 
has  gained  twenty-five  per  cent,  since  1876. 

The  Secretary  reports: 

A correct  record  of  the  results  of  the  Crusade  in 
Iowa  must  include  its  influence  upon  the  legislation  of 
the  State. 

The  law  is  nominally  prohibitory,  but  beer  and  wine 
of  home  manufacture  are  exempted  from  this  prohibi- 
tion. Municipal  corporations  are,  however,  allowed  to 
regulate  or  prohibit  the  sale  of  these  liquors.  In  those 
sections  of  the  State  where  the  women  have  been 
most  earnest  and  persistent,  there  the  law  has  been  the 
most  clearly  prohibitory,  and  its  execution  the  most 
thorouQ-h.  In  some  instances  women  in  laro-e  numbers 
have  gone  to  the  courts  during  the  process  of  suits 
brought  under  the  liquor  law.  They  have  sat  quiet 
listeners,  while  men  who  were  sworn  to  defend  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  of  Iowa  have,  with 
oily  tongue  and  plausible  speech,  “justified  the  wicked 
for  a reward.”  But  judge  and  jury,  by  the  presence 
of  Christian  women,  have  been  reminded  that  they 
were  responsible  to  the  Higher  Law,  and  that  a day 
of  final  reckoning  will  come,  in  that  court  from  which 
no  appeals  are  taken. 

In  one  instance  the  women  had  been  instrumental 
in  the  prosecution  of  a druggist  who  was  known  to 


670 


CRUSADE  AT  MANCHESTER, 


sell  to  minors.  They  attended  the  trial  in  large  num- 
bers. In  order  to  put  them  to  inconvenience,  and  to 
obtain  a trial  before  a justice  more  favorable  to  the 
liquor  party,  the  druggist  took  a change  of  venue  to  a 
justice  of  the  peace  who  held  his  court  in  a little  farm- 
house some  four  miles  from  the  county-seat. 

Thither,  through  rain  and  mud,  the  women  went. 
During  the  progress  of  the  trial,  one  witness,  hardly 
more  than  a boy,  denied  ever  having  taken  a drink  at 
the  place  in  question.  A comrade  who  had  drank 
with  him,  and  was  astounded  at  his  wdlful  perjury, 
sprang  to  his  feet,  and  wuth  livid  face  and  trembling 
lips  exclaimed:  “Oh,  Charley,  how  can  you  lie  so?” 

The  scene  in  that  little  room,  that  was  stipposed  to 
be  a court  of  justice,  w^as  mockery.  Faces  paled  and 
hearts  stood  still,  as  the  terrible  lengths  to  which  this 
iniquity  will  carry  its  allies  appeared.  But  the  scene 
changed  in  a moment:  conscience  was  silenced — appe- 
tite and  avarice  regained  the  reins. 

“The  Avicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth.” 

In  one  little  towm,  wFere  a Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  had  been  organized,  and  in  much  fear 
and  trembling  had  held  one  meeting,  the  w'hiskey  men 
had  nominated  an  unprincipled  man  for  mayor.  Hear- 
ing of  the  w’omen’s  prayer-meeting,  they  wdthdrew^  the 
nomination,  saying,  “We  never  can  elect  that  man  if 
the  women  are  sfoinq-  to  work.” 

o o 

MANCHESTER,  IOWA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  J.  H.  Stevens  for  the  folloAv- 
ing  report  of  work  : 


CRUSADE  AT  MANCHESTER. 


671 


As  we  met  for  our  monthly  missionary  meeting-  the 
first  week  in  January^  1874,  a lady  presented  a paper 
containing  an  account  of  a wonderful  temperance 
work  just  commenced  by  the  women  in  Hillsboro’, 
Ohio,  remarking  that  she  did  not  know  as  it  would  be 
appropriate  for  the  occasion ; to  which  the  president 
replied,  “It  may  aid  us  to  do  missionary  work  at  home, 
perhaps  as  much  needed  as  in  heathen  lands;”  and 
her  heart  leaped  for  joy,  as  in  memory  she  went  back 
thirty  years  to  a little  hamlet  among  the  Green  moun- 
tains of  Vermont,  where  she  went  out  to  solicit  aid  to 
clothe  some  poor  children  for  the  Sunday-school. 
Everywhere  she  met  this  response:  “D.,  and  G.,  and  A. 
ought  to  be  made  to  clothe  them,  for  they  take  all  the 
earnings  of  their  fathers  for  rumy  In  reply  she  said, 
“Let  us  tell  them  to  their  faces  what  we  say  behind 
their  backs:  it  may  do  more  good.” 

We  wrote  a petition,  obtained  the  names  of  nearly 
every  women  in  the  place,  then  carried  it  to  the 
dealers,  and  with  favorable  results. 

Some  twenty-five  years  later,  she  tried  to  do  the 
same  work  in  Manchester,  Iowa,  her  new  home  ; here 
her  heart  was  pained  at  the  havoc  whiskey  was  making 
in  society,  especially  among  the  young.  She  wrote 
petitions  to  the  dealers  entreating  them  to  give  up 
their  deadly  work  ; she  asked  aid  in  circulating  them, 
but  the  ladies  all  said,  “It  will  do  no  goody  and  for  want 
of  faith  the  petitions  had  lain  by  for  five  years  ; yet  she 
still  trusted  that  God  would,  in  his  own  time  and  way, 
open  the  way  for  effectual  work  to  save  the  poor 
inebriates  who  were  thronging  our  streets. 


672 


CRUSADE  AT  MANCHESTER. 


And,  now,  most  welcome  was  the  intelligence  that 
women  in  Ohio  had  dared  to  declare  war  with  the 
monster  intemperance.  We  read  it  with  deep  inter- 
est, and  decided  to  present  it  next  day  at  our  Ladies’ 
Aid  Society ; we  did  so,  and  after  consultation  we 
agreed  to  meet  in  the  parlors  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  to 
prepare  for  action.  After  organizing,  one  of  our  first 
resolutions  was,  that  we  would  work  as  Providence 
opened  the  way,  seven  days  in  the  week,  and  fifty-two 
weeks  in  the  year,  against  this  demon. 

We  prepared  a petition  to  the  dealers,  praying 
them  to  desist  from  their  terrible  work.  A committee 
was  appointed  to  canvass  the  town  for  signatures,  but 
just  here  we  were  met  by  this  difficulty:  can  we  ask 
the  dealers  to  give  up  their  lucrative  business,  for 
which  they  have  paid  their  money  into  the  public 
treasury,  when  we  are  sharing  the  benefit  of  their  ill- 
gotten  gains?  We  wrote  a second  petition  to  the  city 
council,  imploring  them  to  receive  no  more  license 
money  into  the  public  treasury,  thereby  making  us 
responsible  for  the  crimes  we  had  aided  them  to  com- 
mit. We  obtained  one  hundred  and  thirty  names  to 
this  petition,  and  went  en  masse,  about  fifty,  to  the 
council,  then  In  session,  and  presented  It.  They  were 
surprised,  but  treated  us  courteously,  referred  our 
petition  to  a committee,  and  there  it  rested. 

A committee  of  eight  ladies  was  appointed  about 
the  I St  February,  1874,  to  carry  the  first  petition,  con- 
taininof  a lono;  list  of  names,  to  the  dealers,  some  ten 
or  twelve  in  number,  some  of  whom  gave  us  hope  of 
success  and  all  treated  us  kindly. 


CRUSADE  AT  MANCHESTER. 


673 


From  this  time  we  held  daily  and  weekly  prayer- 
meetings,  and  mass-meetings  often,  the  clergy  and 
most  of  the  Christian  men  co-operating  with  us, 
which  aroused  an  opposing  element,  and  frequently  the 
battle  waxed  warm ; for  while  we  petitioned,  prayed, 
sung,  and  published  in  the  press,  we  also  prosecuted 
many  for  violating  the  law. 

Toward  the  last  of  April,  1874,  encouraged  by  the 
success  of  others,  we  decided  to  go  en  masse  to  the 
saloons,  petition,  sing  and  pray,  which  we  did  fre- 
quently, until  about  the  middle  of  May,  when  nearly 
all  of  the  dealers,  who  had  not  unconditionally  sur- 
rendered, said  if  the  suits  pending  could  be  with- 
drawn, or  favorably  settled,  they  would  quit  the  busi- 
ness. Amicable  arrangements  were  made,  and  the 
women  sung  the  doxology  over  their  conquests. 

But  we  soon  learned  that  our  foe  was  not  to  be  con- 
quered so  easily;  avarice,  appetite  and  law  united  to 
give  their  power  to  this  dragon.  The  liquor  interests 
outvoted  us. 

The  council  agreed  to  resuscitate  the  beast  with 
deadly  wound,  and  it  was  not  long  before  it  seemed 
invigorated  afresh  to  plot  and  execute  more  hellish 
deeds  than  ever.  This  called  for  faith  and  patience  on 
the  part  of  the  workers;  some  faltered,  but  a faithful  few 
toiled  on,  believing  that  if  we  could  not  remove  the  diffi- 
culties, perchance  we  might  undermine  their  defences  ; 
if  we  could  not  close  the  saloons  or  save  the  drunkard, 
we  might  save  the  children  and  youth.  Our  hearts  and 
hands  have  often  been  strengthened  and  encouraged,  as 
we  have  welcomed  trophies  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 
43 


674 


CRUSADE  AT  WILTON  JUNCTION. 


We  have  now  a flourishing  Band  of  Hope,  a lodge 
of  Good  Templars,  and  last  but  not  least,  a Reform 
Club,  numbering  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty ; 
for  all  these  things  we  thank  the  Lord.  But  we  have 
learned  by  past  experience  that  it  is  not  safe  to  stop  to 
rejoice  over  victories,  while  the  enemy  is  still  in  the 
field,  lest  while  we  wait,  they  work,  and  by-and-by  we 
have  no  victories  to  rejoice  over. 

May  we  each  and  all  so  fully  share  the  Divine 
anointing,  that,  through  our  instrumentality,  many  may 
yet  be  saved,  and  the  enemy  be  forced  from  his  last 
hiding-place,  the  protection  of  law. 

WILTON  JUNCTION,  IOWA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  S.  B.  Rider  for  the  following 
facts : 

When  the  Crusade  movement  reached  us,  a mass- 
meeting was  called,  and  a committee  of  six  ladies  ap- 
pointed as  leaders  to  canvass  the  town,  which  was 
under  whiskey  rule.  The  town  had  about  i,6oo  in- 
habitants, with  five  saloons  in  good  running  order. 

The  question  of  a petition  for  an  ordinance  of  pro- 
hibition was  warmly  discussed.  Public  opinion  was 
for  license,  as  far  as  could  be  discerned  by  human  eye, 
and  having  had  some  experience  a year  or  two  pre- 
vious in  trying  to  get  a petition  before  the  council,  we 
thought  to  wait  on  the  mayor  and  other  members  of 
the  council,  asking  them  if  they  would  support  such  a 
measure.  They  finally  assured  us  that  if  we  could  get 
a majority  of  legal  voters  within  the  city  limits,  to  sign 
a petition,  asking  that  the  license  ordinance  be  re- 
pealed, a prohibition  ordinance  should  be  granted. 


CRUSADE  AT  WILTON  JUNCTION.  675 

Resting-  on  the  honor  (?)  of  the  honorable  board, 
our  committee  thoroughly  and  carefully  canvassed  the 
city,  and  much  to  our  surprise,  and  greatly  to  our  joy, 
we  found,  on  comparing  the  list  of  the  number  of 
voters  enrolled,  that  we  had  ^a  large  majority,  and 
these  names,  in  nearly  every  case,  had  been  cheerfully 
given  to  the  petition. 

We  carried  with  us  a pledge,  which  we  also  pre- 
sented with  the  petition,  receiving  many  signatures. 
We  visited  the  saloon-keepers,  presenting  both  petition 
and  pledges,  which  were  refused.  We  asked  them  if 
they  could  be  induced  to  give  up  the  business.  Some 
of  them  promised  to  consider  the  question,  others  told 
us  to  go  home  and  get  dinner  for  our  husbands. 

When  the  time  arrived  for  presenting  the  petition 
to  the  mayor  and  council,  a party  of  forty  ladies 
marched  double-file  to  the  council  chamber,  followed 
and  supported  by  a number  of  our  best  citizens,  as 
well  as  by  many  others.  We  were  courteously  re- 
ceived by  this  honorable  body,  and  Mrs.  I.  K.  Terry 
addressed  them,  presenting  the  petition  signed  by  the 
voters.  Much  to  their  chagrin  the  council  found,  after 
investigating  every  name,  a large  majority  in  favor  of 
prohibition.  “ Sold'’  was  plainly  depicted  on  every 
face,  for  they  had  pinned  the  committee  down  to  the 
small  point  of  legal  voters  inside  the  city  limits,  not 
thinking  we  would  succeed.  However,  they  promised 
to  grant  the  petitions,  voting  on  it  while  we  were 
present,  and  then  the  ladies  retired. 

A few  months  must  yet  pass  before  the  licenses 
already  granted  would  expire.  So  we  prayed,  worked, 


676  CRUSADE  AT  WILTON  JUNCTION. 

and  hoped  on,  only  to  be  insulted  by  three  of  the 
licenses  being  granted  the  ist  of  August. 

When  we  inquired  what  it  meant,  the  mayor  said 
he  could  never  get  a quorum  when  they  wanted  (?)  to 
discuss  the  subject.  Albeit,  the  recorder,  who  was 
the  only  one  who  stood  by  his  word,  wrote  the  ordi- 
nance, signed  it,  but  the  mayor  always  had  something 
else  on  hand  when  it  was  presented.  An  indignation 
meeting  was  held,  and  the  board  were  loudly  de- 
nounced, even  by  members  of  their  own  party,  for  all 
the  voters  knew  of  the  promise  given  to  the  ladies. 

Our  vigilance  committee  was  on  the  alert  durincr 

o o 

the  summer,  and  one  of  our  druggists  was  indicted  for 
selling  liquors  to  minors,  but  we  failed  to  do  anything 
with  him. 

Hoping  to  secure  a temperance  council  in  the  spring 
of  1875,  our  ladies  met  In  caucus  with  the  gentlemen, 
nominatinor  such  men  as  we  thought  would  work  for 

o o 

the  welfare  of  the  community. 

On  election  day  five  brave  women  held  a prayer- 
meetlnof  in  a room  above  the  ballot-room,  then  ad- 
journed  to  the  street  to  work  for  their  ticket,  which 
they  did  faithfully  all  day,  others  joining  them.  But 
at  night  the  license  party  had  a majority  of  one,  and 
that  was  afterwards  confessed  to  be  Illegal.  But  our 
temperance  men  did  not  take  Interest  enough  to  con- 
test the  election,  so  it  went  by  default,  and  so  until 
last  spring  (1877)  were  under  whiskey  rule. 

I must  not  forget  to  tell  you  of  an  amusing  incident 
that  occurred  on  that  election  day.  The  leaders  of  the 
license  party  were  making  every  effort,  buying  votes 


CRUSADE  AT  VILLISCA. 


677 


in  every  imaginable  way,  while  I must  say,  to  the  dis- 
grace of  the  temperance  men,  the  women  worked 
alone.  A wealthy,  drinking,  license  man,  not  knowing 
the  ladies  were  at  the  polls,  undertook  to  support  by 
his  arm,  a poor,  bruised,  and  degraded  Irishman  to 
the  polls,  walking  slowly  and  confidingly  by  his  side, 
until  within  a few  steps  of  the  window  where  they  cast 
ballots,  when,  to  his  dismay,  he  discovered  the  ladies 
in  groups,  with  hands  full  of  tickets,  handing  them  out 
to  the  voters.  He  stared  in  amazement,  and  all  at 
once  comprehending  the  situation  of  affairs,  he  dropped 
the  poor  man’s  arm,  and  suddenly  disappeared  around 
a corner,  leaving  the  Irishman  bewildered  on  the  walk, 
with  not  a friend  to  explain,  and  with  a mind  too  much 
muddled  by  drink  to  carry  his  ticket  to  the  box.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say,  neither  were  seen  at  the  polls  that  day. 
Quiet  reigned  about  the  polls  all  day,  and  we  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  respect. 

Last  March  the  license  party  divided,  and  so  we 
have  a temperance  board  now. 

VILLISCA,  IOWA. 

Early  in  January,  1876,  the  ladies  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  Brother  Murphy.  About  five  hundred  signed 
the  pledge ; a Reform  Club  was  organized  ; and,  on 
January  5th,  a Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
with  forty-four  members. 

We  secured  a building  that  had  formerly  been  a 
saloon,  adjoining  another  one ; and  what  had  once 
been  the  house  of  midnight  revelry  was  now  a house 
of  prayer;  and  over  the  same  counter  coffee  and  lunch 


6/8 


CRUSADE  AT  VINTON. 


were  given  by  temperance  women,  the  ladies  taking 
turns  in  keeping  the  room  open  evenings. 

We  remained  there  until  the  saloon-keeper’s  license 
had  run  out,  and  he  could  not  renew,  as  we  had  a no- 
license board.  Then  we  secured  a more  eligible  place, 
on  the  public  square. 

There  was  a man  led  to  sign  the  pledge  through  the 
instrumentality  of  our  Union,  who  would  not  go  to 
hear  Mr.  Murphy.  A few  of  us  went  to  his  house, 
held  a little  prayer-meeting,  after  which  he  and  his 
family  signed  the  pledge,  and  he  has  kept  it ; and  now 
the  home  that  was  once  so  desolate  has  many  comforts. 

We  secured  the  passage  of  an  ordinance  removing 
screens  from  saloon  doors  and  windows ; and  when 
that  was  done  the  billiard  saloon  left,  that  had  been 
selling  sweet  cider. 

o 

Our  Reform  Club  is  a healthy  one,  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union  and  Juvenile  Society  act- 
ing in  concert.  We  have  now  one  thousand  names  to 
the  pledge.  Although  this  year  we  have  a license 
board  (secured  by  illegal  votes),  yet  we  hold  our 
ground. 

We  have  one  hundred  and  twelve  volumes  in  the 
library. 

We  have  raised  in  money,  since  organization,  near 
^250.  W e hope  we  have  sown  seed  that  in  after  years 
may  spring  up  and  bear  an  hundred-fold.  Reported 
by  the  society. 

VINTON,  IOWA. 

I am  indebted  to  M.  E.  Gaston  for  the  following 
report  of  work: 


CRUSADE  AT  VINTON. 


679 


The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  April  17th,  1874.  The  attendance  was 
aood,  and  much  interest  was  manifested  for  several 
months. 

We  did  not  crusade  any,  but  called  on  persons  to 
desist  from  renting  buildings  for  saloons,  and  per- 
suaded venders  to  quit  the  business. 

We  canvassed  the  town  with  the  pledge,  and  secured 
many  names.  There  were  ten  saloons  in  full  blast. 
The  prayers  offered  by  our  Christian  men  and  women 
were  fervent,  but  still  the  traffic  was  carried  on  in  defi- 
ance of  the  temperance  sentiment. 

Our  society  thought  prayers  and  works  combined 
might  mitigate  the  evils  surrounding  us. 

By  this  time  the  enthusiasm  of  the  majority  had  died 
out,  and  a small  number  of  praying  women  resolved 
to  enforce  the  liquor  law  of  our  State. 

At  one  drug  store  the  liquor  was  emptied  in  the 
street.  Two  others  we  prosecuted,  but  found  it  impos- 
sible to  find  witnesses  or  lawyers  to  crown  our  efforts 
with  success. 

The  temperance  sentiment  was  gaining  ground,  and 
the  city  council  ordered  a vote  to  be  taken,  and  by  a 
small  majority  it  was  decided  not  to  license  saloons. 
One  saloon-keeper  moved  outside  the  city  limits,  and 
the  balance  quit  the  business.  But  Satan  always  finds 
workers:  beer  clubs  were  formed  to  evade  the  law. 
We  employed  counsel  to  close  the  beer  traffic. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  first  year,  another  vote  was 
taken,  and  a large  majority  again  decided  against 
license.  Our  town  of  three  thousand  inhabitants  had 


68o 


CRUSADE  AT  CLINTON. 


gained  a reputation  for  sobriety  and  morality  over  any 
other  county-seat  in  eastern  Iowa. 

In  the  meantime,  a new  city  council,  after  three 
months  of  power,  ordered  another  vote  to  be  taken, 
and  a majority  decided  to  raise  the  city  revenue  by 
licensing  the  soul-destroying  evil  to  curse  us  again. 
We  all  felt  this  to  be  unjust,  but  what  could  we  do? 

Three  saloons  were  opened. 

We  have  raised  |8oo  for  the  prosecution  of  our 
work.  We  have  had  a reading-room  open  for  one 
year,  hoping  to  save  the  young  men  from  the  evil 
associations  of  the  saloon,  and  create  a higher  standard 
of  morals  in  our  vicinitv. 

Our  organization  still  exists,  with  about  twelve  ear- 
nest, praying  women,  who,  with  the  eye  of  faith,  still 
look  to  God  and  hope  for  good  results.  God’s  prom- 
ises are  sure. 

CLINTON,  IOWA. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  M.  B.  Youncr  for  the  followino- 

o o 

facts : 

In  the  month  of  October,  1873,  the  women  of 
Clinton  were  moved  in  spirit  to  organize  a temperance 
society,  with  Mrs.  J.  E.  Foster  as  President,  and  named 
it  the  Woman’s  Aid  Society  for  the  suppression  of 
intemperance. 

Our  city  was  cursed  by  the  illegitimate  sale  of  in- 
toxicating drinks,  and  the  women  thought  they  could — 
better  than  the  men,  who  had  their  business  interests — 
pursue  these  saloon-keepers  with  the  lash  of  the  law. 
We  met  weekly,  and  prayed  much,  as  well  as  discussed 
matters  connected  with  the  work  we  had  taken  in 


MRS.  JUDITH  ELLEN  FOSTER. 


CRUSADE  AT  CLINTON.  68 1 

hand.  During-  this  year,  and  in  1874,  we  brought 
charges  against  several  saloon-keepers,  and  got  judg- 
ment aeainst  them.  We  also  held  mass-meetings  to 
stir  the  people,  and  create  a temperance  sentiment. 
We  attended  court  while  poor,  distressed  wives  were 
trying  to  get  damages  out  of  saloon-keepers  for  selling 
whiskey  contrary  to  law  to  their  drunken  husbands, 
and  in  nearly  every  case  the  saloon-keepers  were 
punished. 

About  this  time  we  had  a committee  wait  upon  the 
judge,  expressing  desires  that  the  full  extent  of  the 
law  should  be  meted  out  to  offenders.  The  same 
committee  waited  upon  the  district  attorney,  urging 
upon  him  the  necessity  of  seeing  that  the  papers  were 
promptly  served  upon  these  criminals.  Of  course 
all  this  had  the  effect  of  enraging  saloon-keepers  and 
their  sympathizers,  who  threatened  desperate  things. 
And  indeed  about  this  time  our  President,  Mrs.  J.  E. 
Foster,  who  is  a lawyer,  and  was  engaged  in  several 
of  the  prosecutions,  had  her  home  burned  down  in  the 
night,  and  she,  with  her  husband  and  children,  escaped 
only  with  their  lives.  It  was  supposed  to  have  been 
the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

We  circulated  a petition,  which  was  largely  signed 
by  our  citizens,  asking  our  city  council  to  repeal  the 
license  on  beer  and  wines ; and  although  our  petition 
was  not  answered,  still  it  got  a respectable  hearing, 
and  they  doubled  the  license.  This  was  a question- 
able improvement,  but  it  showed  that  sentiment  was 
rising,  and  they  must  consider  it. 

In  1875,  our  meetings  were  not  so  well  attended, 


682 


CRUSADE  AT  CLINTON, 


and  our  society  relaxed  effort,  a good  many  of  the 
members  getting  discouraged  at  not  making  more 
manifest  progress ; but  a few  held  on,  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  they  concluded  to  send  for  Mr.  Murphy. 
The  ladies  rallied,  canvassed  the  city,  carried  bills  to 
every  house,  urging  people  to  come  out  and  hear  this 
temperance  apostle.  The  result  was,  the  largest  hall 
was  filled  to  overflowing,  and  hundreds  could  not  get 
in.  He  gave  three  lectures,  and  a wonderful  awaken- 
ing followed.  After  paying  all  expenses,  we  had  a 
fund  left,  with  which  we  opened  a reading-room,  on 
the  I St  of  January,  1876.  We  received  donations  of 
books,  pictures,  and  some  furniture,  as  well  as  journals 
and  papers  from  citizens.  During  winter,  we  kept  it 
opep  all  day  and  evening ; in  the  summer,  evenings  onl3L 

In  February  of  this  year  (1876)  we  adopted  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
and  also  its  name,  since  which  time  we  have  been 
auxiliary  to  the  State  Union. 

Our  system  of  raising  money  was  by  districting  the 
city,  and  appointing  collectors  to  solicit  monthl)'  sub- 
scriptions for  the  support  of  the  reading-room.  This, 
with  an  occasional  public  meeting  for  its  benefit,  has 
been  sufficient  for  all  purposes. 

Mrs.  Foster  found  it  necessary,  on  account  of  having 
to  be  much  out  of  town,  to  resign  her  position,  and 
Mrs.  Brindell  took  her  place. 

We  keep  a pledge-book  in  the  reading-room,  in 
which  over  600  names  have  been  sig-ned.  Some  have 
broken  and  renewed  their  pledge,  but  very  many  have 
been  reclaimed,  who  prove  steadfast. 


CRUSADE  IN  MISSOURI. 


683 


We  have  not  done  much  saloon  visiting,  but  we 
have  distributed  tracts  through  the  saloons,  as  well  as 
through  the  city.  W e also  got  our  Iowa  temperance 
law  printed,  and  distributed  it,  to  enlighten  the  people 
as  to  what  power  they  already  possessed  to  hold  in 
check  the  saloon-keeper  in  his  heartless  work  of 
selling-  drink  to  minors  and  drunkards. 

The  ministers  have  greatly  encouraged  us,  by  fre- 
quently preaching  temperance  from  the  pulpit,  espe- 
cially before  elections.  Religious  service  is  held  every 
Sabbath  in  the  reading-room.  Since  we  opened  the 
reading-room,  January,  1876,  until  August,  1877,  we 
have  received  in  money  ^658.91. 

We  still  meet  once  a week  for  prayer  and  consulta- 
tion, and  once  a month  for  business.  With  all  our 
labor,  saloons  still  thrive,  and  men  go  down  to  drunk- 
ards’ graves,  while  “moderate  drinkers”  hurry  in  to 
fill  the  gaps.  We  intend  to  labor  on,  and  as  the  years 
roll  by,  the  temperance  public  shall  learn  more  and 
more  how  to  utilize  this  power,  and  every  hand,  as 
well  as  every  heart,  shall  help  to  turn  the  current  of 
sentiment  in  favor  of  total  abstinence.  But  until  then 
we  must  watch  and  wait,  labor  and  pray. 


MISSOURI. 

Mrs.  Mary  M.  Clardy,  Vice-President,  W.  N.  C.  T., 
reports  : 

The  law  of  the  State  is  for  license,  and  the  press  is 
anti-temperance.  The  attitude  of  the  political  parties 


684 


CRUSADE  AT  CARTHAGE, 


is  also  opposed  to  prohibition  and  temperance  legis- 
lation. 

The  churches  and  clergy  seem  lukewarm,  in  their 
advocacy  of  active  work,  though  during  the  past  few 
weeks,  owing  to  the  presentation  of  the  interests  of 
the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  before 
several  religious  bodies,  the  outlook  is  more  hopeful. 
In  Missouri,  as  in  all  Southern  States,  public  sentiment 
is  strongly  against  the  public  work  of  women,  and  this 
is  an  embarrassinoT-  feature  in  the  effort  to  establish 

O 

Unions  throuMiout  the  State.  Durinor  a recent  Sun- 

o o 

day-School  Convention,  one  gentleman  having  a large 
supervision  of  Sunday-school  interests,  laid  down  the 
law  of  the  land,  that  a woman  might  be  allowed  to 
teach  an  infant  class  in  the  Sunday-school,  but  must 
not  speak  or  pray  in  public. 

Still,  temperance  women  are  not  utterly  cast  down, 
but  promise  hard  work  for  God  and  temperance. 

Two  friendly  inns  at  St.  Louis,  not  under  the  care 
of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  are 
well  sustained,  and  prayer-meetings  are  kept  up  at 
these  places  with  good  attendance  and  results.  Thus 
far,  individual  effort,  alone,  has  thrown  its  tiny  pebble 
at  the  giant.  Intemperance,  but  organization  is  sure  to 
be  the  outcome. 

CARTHAGE,  MISSOURI. 

The  Crusade  in  Carthage  was  a success.  The  rage 
of  the  saloon-keepers,  and  the  results,  moral  and 
political,  all  indicated  it. 

For  more  than  ten  weeks  the  good  women  of  that 

O 


CRUSADE  AT  CARTHAGE. 


685 


little  city,  led  by  Mrs.  H.  R.  Miller,  wife  of  the  Metho- 
dist pastor,  carried  the  battle  to  the  enemy’s  gate. 
Almost  every  evening  they  held  meetings  at  the 
saloons,  singing,  praying,  reading  the  Scriptures,  some- 
times addressing  the  crowds  themselves  and  some- 
times securing  the  services  of  ministers  to  preach. 

They  suffered  nameless  and  almost  innumerable 
indignities.  At  their  first  appearance  they  were 
assaulted  with  tin  horns  blown  in  their  faces,  which 
horns  we7'e  bought  and  paid for  by  the  mayor  of  the  city 
for  that  purpose.  A saloon-keeper  caused  fiddling  and 
dancing  by  roughs,  while  the  women  sang  and  prayed 
before  his  saloon.  Another  with  a force-pump  and 
hose  threw  water  by  the  barrel  on  them,  while  they 
sang  and  prayed  in  the  street  before  his  establishment. 
The  women  protected  each  other  as  well  as  they 
could,  some  standing  over  the  praying  woman,  and 
taking  the  water  while  she  prayed.  The  storm  was 
braved  heroically,  and  they,  undismayed,  retired. 
They  were  also  assaulted  with  stones,  good  and  bad 
eggs,  but  still  they  persevered,  and  success  attended 
their  work.  As  they  could  not  be  suppressed  with 
violence,  the  mayor  and  council  undertook  the  work 
by  law.  They  enacted  an  ordinance  forbidding  them  to 
pray  on  the  sidewalks,  and  requiring  them  to  go  ten 
feet  from  the  sidewalk  into  the  street.  They  obeyed ; 
sang  and  kneeled  in  the  mud  in  the  street.  But  the 
indignation  of  the  citizens  at  the  action  of  the  council 
caused  them  to  meet  together  the  next  morning  and 
repeal  the  ordinance. 

Three  weeks  more  passed,  and  such  was  the  sue- 


686 


CRUSADE  AT  CARTHAGE. 


cess  of  the  work  of  the  women  that  the  council  met 
and  passed  an  ordinance  forbidding  singing,  praying 
and  preaching  on  the  street,  on  any  week-day  or  night, 
without  consent  of  the  mayor,  under  penalty  of  from 
twenty  to  one  hundred  dollars  fine  for  each  offence. 
This  the  women  regarded  as  an  act  striking  down 
their  dearest  liberties,  and  they  raised  the  standard  of 
revolt.  The  same  evening  of  the  passage  of  the  ordi- 
nance, fourteen  ladies,  accompanied  by  Revs.  Miller, 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  Pendleton,  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  moved  to  a saloon  and  sang,  after  which  Mrs. 
Miller  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Wilson  prayed.  They  were 
then  arrested  and  marched  to  the  police  judge’s  office, 
whither  they  went,  singing : 

“All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’  name.” 

Their  names  were  taken,  and  all  released  to  appear 
next  morning  for  trial.  They  proceeded  to  the  street, 
moved  in  front  of  a saloon,  commenced  singing  again, 
and  were  immediately  arrested.  The  ladies  were 
then  tried,  but  released  on  a technicality,  which  also 
bore  on  the  case  of  the  ministers,  but  was  overruled. 
The  indio-nation  of  the  masses  was  aroused  at  the  base 

O 

treatment  of  the  women,  and  the  authorities  dared  not 
fine  them  in  consequence,  as  they  declared  their  inten- 
tion to  go  to  jail  rather  than  pay  a fine.  They  con- 
tinued to  sing  and  pray  on  the  street.  The  council 
repealed  the  ordinance,  and  the  good  work  went  on. 
It  was  thought  that  the  county,  on  a direct  issue,  could 
be  carried  for  temperance.  A powerful  temperance 
sentiment  was  created  by  the  work  of  these  women. 


CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  friends  of  temperance  in  this  State,  after  a long 
and  earnest  conflict,  secured  the  passage  of  a Local 
Option  law  by  a decided  majority. 

This  law  provided  that  on  the  call  of  a certain  number 
of  voters  a special  election  should  be  held  and  a vote  of 
the  town  be  taken,  for,  or  against  license.  At  several 
points  signal  victories  had  been  gained  ; the  temper- 
ance women  of  the  State  giving  active  aid  and  sym- 
pathy to  the  cause.  Sallie  Hart,  a young  lady  of  San 
Francisco,  of  unusual  ability  and  irreproachable  char- 
acter, was  very  active  and  efficient  at  the  temperance 
meetings  and  at  the  polls.  Her  life  was  threatened, 
and  she  was  warned  to  desist  or  suffer  the  conse- 
quences. But  she  was  too  heroic  to  quail  before  the 
enemies  of  her  country  and  her  race,  and  in  the  con- 
flict that  followed  she  came  near  losing  her  life.  The 
very  same  class  that  has  for  years  committed  outrages 
on  the  Chinese  would  have  torn  her  to  pieces  if  it  had 
not  been  for  the  courage  and  untiring  efforts  of  the 
police,  and  a brave  band  of  temperance  men  and  order- 
lovinof  citizens. 

The  first  great  victory  was  at  Oakland.  This  city 

(687) 


688 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places  in  California.  It  is 
situated  just  across  the  bay  from  San  Francisco,  and  is 
embowered  in  flowers,  and  shaded  with  live  oaks. 
These  beautiful  trees  are  always  fresh  and  green.  It 
had  become  a city  of  elegant  residences,  but  the. beer- 
trade  was  ruining  it,  property  was  depreciating,  and 
the  property-owners  were  almost  unanimous  in  the 
desire  to  banish  the  drinking-saloons. 

Oakland  was  the  third  city  of  the  State.  After 
doing  all  they  could  do  preparatory'  for  the  contest, 
the  women  went  to  the  polls  and  worked  all  day. 
Their  methods  were  novel  and  taking.  They  had  a 
large  tent,  where  a free  lunch  was  spread.  Tea, 
coffee,  and  everything  that  was  elegant  and  inviting 
were  provided.  Barrels  of  ice-water  were  at  hand,  so 
that  no  man  should  have  an  excuse  to  go  to  the  drink- 
ing-saloon to  quench  his  thirst. 

Bushels  of  bouquets  were  in  readiness,  and  ballots 
''Against  License  ” in  hand,  and  all  who  would  accept 
the  ballot  got  a bouquet  and  a pleasant  “Thank  you.” 

The  liquor  men  were  confident  that  they  would  have 
a large  majority,  but  the  ladies  turned  the  tide,  and  a 
victory  for  temperance  was  gained. 

A grand  mass-meeting  was  held  in  their  tent  in  the 
evening,  and  the  temperance  people  and  the  property- 
owners  of  Oakland  were  jubilant.  The  Saturday  fol- 
lowing, the  ladies  went  in  force  to  Brooklyn,  a neigh- 
boring town,  and  aided  in  gaining  another  victory. 
The  work  went  on  gloriously  throughout  the  State. 

Dr.  Jewell,  of  Howard  Street  M.  E.  Church,  San 
Francisco,  preached  a stirring  sermon  from  the  text: 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


689 


“ Rise  up,  ye  women  that  are  at  ease,  hear  my  voice, 
ye  careless  daughters ; give  ear  to  my  speech.”  Isa. 
xxxii.  9;  with  a view  to  arouse  the  women  for  work 
in  that  city. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1874,  an  election,  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Local  Option  law,  was  held  in  the  pro- 
verbially quiet  town  of  Alameda,  California. 

I gather  the  following  facts  from  well-authenticated 
accounts : 

“ During  the  day  of  the  election,  the  place  was  in- 
vaded by  an  army  of  men  from  San  Francisco,  organ- 
ized in  the  interests  of  liquor,  who,  by  mob-violence, 
took  possession  of  the  streets  and  avenues  to  the 
polls,  and  committed  the  most  outrageous  insults  to 
American  citizenship,  both  to  men  and  women,  that 
have  ever  yet  been  known  in  all  the  history  of  the 
State. 

“ From  the  course  pursued  by  the  organized  liquor 
interest  in  San  Francisco,  under  whose  auspices  the 
outrages  at  Alameda  seem  to  have  been  committed,  it 
is  evident  that  the  liquor  interests  of  our  whole  coun- 
try have  combined  to  resist  all  law,  social,  moral,  and 
civil,  whenever  and  wherever  such  law  interferes  with 
their  degrading  business. 

“ The  facts  of  the  Alameda  outrages  ought  to  be 
made  known  to  every  citizen  of  the  State  and  the 
country.  They  show,  as  nothing  else  has  ever  shown, 
the  animus  and  purpose  of  the  ‘ whiskey  interest.’ 
Sensible,  sober  people,  want  to  know  the  truth.” 

The  Evening  Post  dared  to  publish  the  facts.  It  has 
exposed  the  falsehoods  so  widely  circulated,  and  has 


690 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


denounced  the  outrage  and  the  perpetrators  in  leading 
editorials  of  great  force  and  merit. 

THE  REIGN  OF  TERROR  INAUGURATED. 

The  scene  as  described  in  the  Chronicle  and  Post  next  day. 

“ Not  far  from  the  middle  of  the  day,  the  train  from 
San  Francisco  arrived  and  deposited  upon  the  street 
one  hundred  and  fifty  members  of  the  San  Francisco 
German  Saloon-Keepers’  Society,  headed  by  the  United 
States  Fourth  Artillery  Band.  Instantly  it  was  seen 
that  there  was  trouble  ahead.  The  delegation  was 

o 

composed  mostly  of  young  and  Irresponsible  men. 

“ They  at  once  formed  in  line,  and  being  joined  by 
as  many  more  already  in  the  street,  they  started  for 
the  polling-place  to  the  music  of  the  band.  When  the 
procession  dispersed,  a large  throng  at  once  crowded 
on  the  corner  near  the  polling-place.  ‘ Down  with  Sallie 
Hart ! ’ they  shouted,  and  at  the  same  time  pressed  in 
around  her.  Fortunately  several  powerful  gentlemen 
happened  to  be  near  her,  or  she  would  inevitably  have 
been  crushed  in  the  excited  mass. 

“ ‘ Go  home,  you  little  red-head  ! ’ ‘ Get  out  of  this, 

and  go  home  ! ’ was  the  cry.  The  crowd  pressed,  and 
swore,  and  hooted,  and  yelled,  and  shrieked.  ‘ Down 
with  her  ! ’ ‘ Drive  her  off  the  street ! ’ ‘ Give  her  a 

kiss  ; that’s  what  she  wants  ! ’ ‘ Don’t  let  her  speak  ! ’ 

In  vain  did  the  poor  girl  cry,  ‘For  shame,  gentlemen  ! ’ 
In  vain  did  her  few  friends  surge,  and  squeeze,  and  try 
to  force  an  opening  for  retreat.  In  vain  did  the  police 
shout  and  brandish  their  clubs.  The  crowd  only 
hooted  and  howled  their  insults  all  the  more.  Finally, 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA.  69 1 

a narrow  passage  was  made,  and  through  it  the  girl 
was  half-dragged  into  an  adjoining  store.” 

Thence,  after  a few  moments,  she  was  escorted  by 
a strong  cordon  of  police  and  temperance  men  to  the 
ladies’  tent.  The  crowd  caught  sight  of  her  as  she 
left  the  store,  and  at  once  surged  and  pressed  around, 
their  yells  and  gestures  increasing  each  moment  in 
violence.  Slowly  the  young  lady  and  her  escorts 
made  their  way  to  the  tent,  unable  to  resent  or  stop 
the  torrent  of  vile  epithets  which  assailed  them.  Once 
inside,  Sallie  sat  down  almost  exhausted,  but  the 
crowd  were  not  satisfied.  They  yelled  fiercely,  “Take 
Sallie  Hart  home  or  we’ll  tear  down  the  tent!”  “She 
shan’t  stay  here!”  “Say,  you  old  Gibson;  take  her 
home,  do  you  mind,  or  we’ll  kill  her.”  With  these 
remarks,  the  vast  throng  shook  their  fists  and  swore 
they  wouldn’t  quit  the  spot  until  Sallie  Hart  and  every 
other  woman  had  promised  that  they  would  not  again 
show  their  faces.  The  temperance  men,  headed  by 
Dr.  W.  R.  Gibbons,  Dr.  Densmore,  Mr.  Gibson,  Mr. 
Hurlburt,  and  others,  at  once  took  measures  to  pro- 
tect the  tent  and  the  ladies  in  it  from  violence.  A 
strong  force  of  police  was  instantly  summoned,  who 
drew  a rope  around  the  entrance  and  endeavored  to 
keep  the  excited  crowd  outside. 

One  old  lady  of  at  least  sixty  years,  with  silver-gray 
hair,  splendid  black  eyes,  and  a commanding  figure, 
ventured  out  in  the  belief  that  her  age  and  appearance 
would  command  an  outward  show  of  respect.  She 
took  a bundle  of  No-License  tickets  and  a small 
bouquet,  and  got  as  far  as  the  street,  near  the  polling- 


692 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


place.  The  hooting  crowd  made  for  her  and  she  was 
surrounded  in  a twinkling.  “Go  home,  old  woman,” 
they  shouted;  “go  home  and  mend  your  husband’s 
breeches!”  Then  followed  a series  of  yells  and 
groans  and  cat-calls,  interspersed  with  cries  of  “Sour 
kraut,”  “Limberger,”  and  “Go  it,  old  granny!” 

Whenever  the  old  lady  would  open  her  lips  to 
speak,  she  would  be  instantly  set  upon,  and  her  voice 
completely  drowned.  But  she  held  out  bravely. 
Mounting  a piazza,  her  great  black  eyes  flashing  with 
the  rage  of  a pythoness,  she  hurled  defiance  at  the 
jeering  crowd  and  tried  to  shame  it  into  decency. 
One  man  filled  his  cheeks  with  tobacco  smoke  and 
blew  it  into  her  face.  Another  spat  on  her  dress;  a 
third  trod  on  her  feet,  and  all  pushed  and  jostled  her 
in  a most  unmanly  way.  Finally,  when  some  one  in 
the  crowd  hurled  an  atrociously  obscene  epithet  at 
her,  the  old  lady  burst  into  tears  and  shrank  away  in 
disgust. 

O 

About  half-past  Lwo  o’clock  a litter  was  rigged 
behind  a building,  a five-gallon  demijohn  placed  on  it, 
and  alongside  the  demijohn  was  laid  an  effigy  of 
Sallie  Hart,  dressed  in  black.  In  the  mouth  of  the 
demijohn  was  stuck  a stick,  from  which  flew  a black 
flao-.  The  litter  was  lifted  to  the  shoulders  of  a crowd 

o 

of  men  with  everofreens  In  their  hats.  An  Immense 
procession  was  formed,  and  preceded  by  the  band 
playing  the  “ Dead  March  in  Saul,”  it  marched  back 
and  forth  In  front  of  the  temperance  tent,  amid  the 
hooting  and  jeering  of  the  multitude.  An  effort  was 
made  at  this  time  to  drown  the  din  by  singing  the 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


693 


Hallelujah  chorus,  but  the  effort  was  a lamentable 
failure.  The  funeral  procession  marched  to  a pile  of 
sand  near  the  tent,  where,  amid  the  waving  of  hats 
and  hoarse  cheers  of  the  throng,  the  “body”  of  Miss 
Hart  was  prepared  for  interment.  The  litter  was 
lowered  to  the  ground,  a hole  dug,  and  then,  strict 
silence  being  enjoined,  Louis  Kehlmeyer  intoned  a 
biirlesqite  of  the  Catholic  burial  '■'■service!' 

The  Evening  Post,  on  the  day  after  election,  con- 
tained the  following: 

The  brutal  outrages  perpetrated  by  German  whis- 
key men,  who  went  over  to  Alameda  yesterday,  and 
insulted,  mobbed,  and  drove  off  ladies  who  had  as 
much  right  there  as  themselves,  will  arouse  a feeling 
of  indignation  in  the  heart  of  every  right-thinking 
American  citizen.  California  has  always  been  noted 
for  her  chivalry  to  women,  and  every  Californian’s  face 
must  burn  that  such  an  outrage  has  been  perpetrated 
in  a California  town.  Things  have  come  to  a pretty 
pass  when  a lot  of  vile  brutes  who  have  no  respect 
for  womanhood  themselves,  can  publicly  insult  ladies 
in  the  grossest  manner;  compel  them,  under  threats 
of  violence,  to  get  out  of  their  way,  and  openly  bur- 
lesque the  most  solemn  ceremony  of  a Christian 
church. 

Our  laws,  and  the  American  sentiment,  which  is 
deeper  than  all  laws,  guarantee  to  every  woman  who 
conducts  herself  in  an  orderly  and  decent  manner,  im- 
munity from  insult  and  outrage.  To  the  American 
mind  there  is  in  womanhood  a sacred  riMit  and  essen- 

o 

tial  privilege,  recognized  even  by  the  lowest  and  most 


694 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


brutal,  which  gives  to  every  woman  exemption  from 
insult  and  outrage.  This  sentiment  the  brutal  wretches 
who  insulted  and  drove  off  the  ladies  at  Alameda, 
yesterday,  appeared  to  have  defied  with  deliberate  in- 
tention. How  far  the  general  association  of  liquor- 
dealers  may  have  been  responsible  for  it  we  do  not 
know ; but  the  German  Liquor-Dealers’  Association, 
which  went  to  Alameda  in  a body,  and  their  fellows 
on  the  ground  seem  to  have  deliberately  made  up 
their  minds  to  drive  off  the  ladies  by  whatever  stretch 
of  brutality  was  necessary.  One  of  the  Germans  had 
a double-barrelled  gun,  with  which  he  marched  in  the 
procession,  and  several  of  them  had  pistols.  One  lady 
said  that  a man  in  the  crowd  spit  upon  her,  and  an- 
other that  she  had  liquor  thrown  in  her  face.  Another 
lady  was  seated  in  a buggy  when  the  whiskey  men 
marched  past  her  with  the  black  flag,  which  they  placed 
over  the  grave  that  held  Sallie  Hart’s  effigy ; and  one 
of  them  shook  the  flag  in  her  face  and  said,  “ Death  to 
temperance ! ” 

Judge  J.  Russell  said  he  had  been  in  California,  and 
had  travelled  a good  deal  in  it,  having  roamed  over  the 
coast  in  early  days,  from  this  city  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  river,  and  visited  many  of  the  mining  camps. 
He  had  never  seen  so  rough  a crowd  as  was  present 
at  Alameda.  Mr.  N.  A.  Hillyer  said  the  obscenity 
was  frightful. 

O 

“I  took  an  old  lady  by  force  from  the  crowd,  and  put 
her  into  the  barber’s  shop  for  protection.  I saw  men 
poke  sticks  under  the  old  lady’s  dress  and  raise  her 
clothes  as  she  stood  on  a tea-box  before  the  mob.  I 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


695 


also  saw  the  mob  bury  Sallie  Hart  in  effigy,  and  the 
black  flag  rising  above  the  grave.  I heard  profanity 
and  obscenity  from  the  mob.  I have  been  in  all  kinds 
of  society,  in  Catholic  and  Protestant  lands,  but  I never 
heard  anything  like  the  profanity  used  on  that  occa- 
sion. A pistol  was  drawn  on  me  for  remonstrating 
arainst  license.” 

STATEMENT  OF  REV.  O.'  GIBSON,  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO. 

At  the  Alameda  election,  from  morning  till  night,  the 
air  was  filled  with  profanity,  obscenity,  and  the  most 
outrageous  insults  to  pure  American  womanhood — 
not  by  citizens  of  Alameda,  but  by  the  representatives 
of  the  “German  Liquor-Dealers’  Association,”  of  San 
Francisco. 

From  twelve  o’clock  to  three  p.  m.  I remained  In 
front  of  the  temperance  tent,  aiding  the  friends  In 
efforts  to  defend  the  women  In  the  tent  from  being 
overrun  and  outraged  by  the  howling  mob  which  sur- 
rounded and  threatened  them.  At  three  o’clock  I 
passed,  quietly  and  alone,  to  the  office  to  send  a tele- 
gram. On  coming  out  of  the  office,  I was  at  once  sur- 
rounded by  a large  crowd,  who  seemed  to  be  waiting  ‘ 
to  take  the  cars.  My  presence  was  the  signal  for 
howls,  curses,  and  threats,  such  as:  “Gibson,  the  old 
rooster,  send  him  home.”  “Go  home,  d — n you.” 
“You  don’t  vote  right.”  “We  don’t  want  you  here.” 
“We  Germans  be  the  most  Intelligence  peoples.” 
“You  Yankees  be  d — d fanatics,”  and  so  on.  I did 
not  undertake  to  discuss  the  question  with  such  a 
crowd.  But  they  pressed  upon  me — one  man  from 


696 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA, 


behind  kicked  me,  another  struck  me,  and  then  an 
effort  was  made  to  push  me  down.  At  last,  the  police 
succeeded  in  opening  the  crowd,  and  I passed  out. 

The  crowd  followed,  howling,  for  the  distance  of  one 
whole  block ; then  the  police  succeeded  in  getting  me 
into  a store,  and  I passed  through  and  escaped  out  of 
their  hands. 

On  returning  to  San  Francisco,  per  four  o’clock  boat 
from  Oakland,  attended  by  five  other  persons,  some  of 
whom  had  only  been  to  Oakland  on  business,  a party 
of  the  Alameda  rioters  followed  us  in  the  streets  of 
this  city,  up  as  far  as  the  post-office,  with  jeers  and 
cat-calls,  making  such  a demonstration  as  to  call  many 
people  to  the  shop  doors  to  see  what  was  going  on. 

Mr.  J.  N,  Webster,  in  the  Post,  of  July  9th,  says: 

Mr.  John  Gunn,  one  of  our  best  and  most  respected 
citizens,  had  his  coat  torn  off  his  back  because  he 
dared  to  advocate  the  riMit. 

o 

Sallie  Hart  remained  on  the  field,  doino-  all  the  o^ood 
she  could,  until  there  were  certain  signs  that  they  in- 
tended to  kill  her,  when  she  was  taken  away. 

William  F.  Kellett,  in  the  Post,  of  July  12th,  tells  us; 

At  Alameda,  on  last  Thursday,  scenes  were  enacted 
which  are  absolutely  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  our 
elections,  and  with  which  the  opinions  of  the  parties 
therein  had  nothino-  whatever  to  do.  Yet  in  some  of 

O 

the  papers  not  a single  word  of  censure  has  been 
uttered,  while  some  have  actually  justified  them.  That 
murder  was  not  committed  was  because  the  threatened 
did  not  dare  to  lift  a hand,  while  other  things  were 
done  which  would  almost  have  justified  the  death  of 


CRUSADE  IN  CALIFORNIA.  697 

the  offender  on  the  spot,  and  which  I cannot  name, 
however  remotely. 

AFFIDAVIT  OF  OFFICER  KRAUTH. 

I told  the  reporter  about  the  crowd  hooting  and 
yelling,  and  trying  to  get  into  the  ladies’  tent,  and 
endeavoring  to  create  a disturbance  all  the  time,  and 
trying  to  pick  quarrels  with  the  people  and  police.  I 
told  him  that  the  rope  around  the  tent  was  cut  seven 
times,  and  gave  him  other  information  of  a similar 
character.  From  the  time  the  San  Francisco  crowd 
arrived,  there  was  one  continuous  scene  of  disgraceful 
riot,  until  they  left,  late  in  the  afternoon.  I believe 
there  were  two  trains  of  cars,  with  eight  cars  each,  all 
filled  with  people,  who  came  from  San  Francisco  and 
Oakland ; and  we  had  but  fifteen  officers  to  try  and 
preserve  order.  It  was  impossible  to  arrest  anybody, 
owing  to  the  crowd,  and  all  that  we  could  do  was  to 
prevent  fighting.  I have  read  the  report  of  the  occur- 
rences at  Alameda  on  the  day  of  the  local  option 
election,  as  published  in  the  Post,  and  it  is  substantially 
correct.  F.  K.  Krauth,  Jr. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  13th  day 
of  July,  1874.  Samuel  S.  Murfey,  Notary  Public. 

These  outrages  passed  unpunished,  and  the  whole 
liquor  force  rallied  against  the  Local  Option  law.  They 
were  not  willing  that  majorities  should  rule,  but  deter- 
mined to  force  drink,  against  the  express  will  of  the 
people,  upon  them,  and  compel  the  protesting  legal 
voters  and  tax-payers  to  submit  to  a depreciation  of 


698 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


the  value  of  their  property,  and  support  the  paupers 
and  criminals,  the  result  of  their  traffic. 

They  therefore  carried  a case  to  the  courts,  and 
obtained  a decision,  that  the  Local  Option  law  was  uncon- 
stitutional. A wide-spread  opinion  prevailed  at  the 
time  that  the  court  was  corrupted ; but  there  was  no 
redress.  Nothing  was  left  but  to  work,  and  pray,  and 
wait,  till  the  public  sentiment  was  strong  enough  to 
master  the  rowdyism  of  society,  and  hurl  from  power 
the  officials  that  truckle  to  the  base  demands  of  the 
liquor  oligarchy. 


OREGON. 

I gather  the  following  thrilling  facts  from  a published 
account  by  Mrs.  F.  F.  Victor; 

A meeting  was  called  at  the  Baptist  Church,  Tues- 
day, March  loth,  to  consider  the  methods  used  in  the 
Crusade  movement.  From  this  time  on,  meetings 
were  held  daily,  morning,  noon,  and  night.  The  sub- 
ject of  temperance  was  discussed  from  every  possible 
standpoint,  and,  after  much  thoughtfulness  and  prayer, 
the  ladies  decided  to  visit  the  saloons.  The  gentle- 
men organized  a society  to  assist  the  ladies. 

On  the  1 7th  of  March,  a printed  appeal  was  sent  to 
the  liquor-dealers,  copies  of  which,  in  large  type,  were 
posted  around  the  city.  The  ministers  of  the  town. 
Revs.  Medbury,  Baptist,  Atkinson  and  Izer,  Methodist, 
and  Eaton,  Congregationalist,  by  frequent  and  stirring 
addresses,  and  in  every  possible  way,  assisted  the 
ladies. 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


699 


The  first  visit  to  saloons  was  made  in  small  com- 
panies, two-and-two,  going  quietly.  In  most  of  the 
places  they  were  politely  treated,  Mr.  Moffett  being 
the  exception.  Two  elderly  ladies,  mothers  in  Israel, 
called  at  his  door  to  leave  the  dealers’  pledge,  when 
the  brutalizing  influence  of  the  liquor  business  upon 
those  who  sell  was  conspicuously  exhibited.  When 
they  entered,  Mr.  Moffett,  on  the  alert,  without  giving 
them  time  to  announce  their  errand,  seized  them  each 
rudely  by  an  arm,  and  thrust  them  into  the  street, 
exclaiming,  “Get  out  of  this.  I keep  a respectable 
house,  and  don’t  want  any  d — d wh — s here.” 

Long  and  earnest  prayers  had  given  these  women 
a preparation  which  Mr.  Moffett  had  not  calculated  on. 
Mrs.  Reed,  one  of  the  two  thus  insulted,  turned  and 
looked  up  over  the  door  to  ascertain  what  sort  of  a 
place,  kept  by  what  sort  of  a man,  this  might  be,  and 
the  name  struck  her  with  horror. 

“Walter  Moffett!”  she  exclaimed.  “Can  this  be 
Walter  Moffett?  Why,  Walter  Moffett,  I used  to 
know  you;  and  I prayed  with  your  wife  for  your 
safety,  when  you  were  at  sea  years  ago  I” 

“ I don’t  want  any  of  your  d — d prayers  ; I want 
you  to  get  out  of  this,  and  stay  out.  That’s  all  I want 
of  you.  I don’t  keep  a wh — e house.” 

If  any  suppose  it  does  not  require  an  utter  conse- 
cration to  prepare  pure-minded  ladies  to  encounter 
such  base  and  ruffianly  assaults  as  these,  they  are  in 
error ; for  the  most  patient  and  persistent  laborers  in 
this  field  are  meek  and  quiet  Christian  women,  who  have 
seldom  or  never  spoken  aloud  in  their  own  churches ; 


700 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


humble  women  who  have  never  essayed  to  lead  in 
anything,  not  even  the  fashions. 

After  this  quiet  canvass,  the  ladies  visited  the 
saloons  in  force.  Often  the  saloons  were  closed 
against  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to  hold  their 
services  on  the  street.  This  only  brought  them  the 
larger  audiences.  Often,  too,  they  were  assailed  by 
abusive  language,  and  even  roughly  handled.  This, 
too,  opened  the  eyes  of  many  to  the  brutalizing  effects 
of  drink,  and  led  them  to  declare,  that  if  that  was  what 
whiskey  brought  men  to,  they  would  never  drink 
another  drop. 

At  the  Oregon  Exchange  very  often,  when  a visit 
from  the  ladies  was  anticipated,  some  ridiculous  or 
scandalous  performance  was  gotten  up,  to  divert  them 
from  their  purpose ; such  as  a man  fantastically 
dressed,  a la  negro  minstrels,  dancing,  drinking  from  a 
bottle,  etc.  One  of  the  worst  places  visited  was  kept 
by  two  women.  With  these  the  ladies  felt  they  must 
succeed.  On  their  second  visit,  as  the  ladies  ap- 
proached, one  of  the  women  flew  in  a rage  to  close 
the  door;  the  other  woman  objected,  and  they  were 
admitted.  One  of  them  was  penitent,  and  listened 
tearfully  to  their  words,  and  promised  to  lead  a dif- 
ferent life. 

At  one  German  saloon  the  proprietor  rushed  out 
when  he  saw  the  ladies  coming,  and  swinging  his  arms 
and  shakino;  his  fists  in  the  most  excited  manner,  ex- 
claimed  : “ Vot  you  vant  here  ? You  shust  go  vay  ! 
Get  off  mine  sidevalk  ! Vat  you  come  here  so  mooch, 
braying  and  singing,  and  making  my  license  so  pig? 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


701 


You  shust  go  vay!  I vill  not  haf  it!  Vat  you  vant  ? 
You  make  a church  of  mine  house  ! Ruin  mine  piz- 
ness  I No,  no,  you  can  do  dat;  you  moost  come  here 
no  more.  You  shust  come  here  vonce  more,  you  vill 
see  vat  I vill  do  mit  you  ! My  Piple  says  you  moost 
not  bray  on  de  street  corners,  but  you  moost  bray  at 
home.  You  go  home  to  bray.” 

The  band  commenced  singing  a hymn,  and  the  irate 
German  retreated  into  his  saloon.  As  they  were 
passing  on,  he  gazed  after  them  as  if  horror-stricken  : 

“Veil  if  dere  is  not  a burty  young  girl  mit  dose 
vimmen  ! Vot  a shame!”  Probably,  he  thought,  a 
hurdy-gurdy  house  a better  place  for  a “burty  young 
girl  ” than  “ mit  dose  vimmen.” 

At  the  more  respectable  houses  they  were  treated 
with  civility,  and  were  allowed  to  hold  services  in  the 
saloons  and  the  billiard  rooms,  and  no  drinks  were 
sold  during  their  stay.  But  from  the  beginning  of 
the  Crusade,  the  opposition  of  the  liquor-dealers,  both 
wholesale  and  retail,  was  steady  and  united.  Secret 
meetings  were  held  from  time  to  time  to  consider  the 
most  effectual  means  of  combating  the  growing  tem- 
perance sentiment.  The  loss  of  money  and  the  loss 
of  reputation  was  the  burden  of  their  complaint. 
What  transpired  in  these  secret  sessions  can  only  be 
judged  by  the  plans  they  adopted  publicly.  It  seemed 
to  fall  to  Mr.  Moffett’s  share  to  try  the  effect  of  fire, 
water,  and  noise,  in  “abating  the  nuisance  of  prayer 
and  singing.”  On  one  occasion,  when  the  ladies 
visited  the  Web  Foot  saloon,  Mr.  Moffett  made  such 
demonstrations  as  drew  about  them  a great  crowd  of 


702 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


people  and  obstructed  travel.  This  was  just  what  he 
desired,  as  it  gave  him  an  excuse  for  calling  in  the 
police,  who  were  ordered  to  disperse  the  crowd, 
meaning  the  women.  One  of  the  officers,  acting  on 
the  instructions  given  him,  began  not  only  to  order 
away  the  women,  but  laid  violent  hands  on  them,  and, 
without  respect  to  the  gray  hairs  of  some,  pushed  them 
rudely  about,  bruising  the  shoulder  of  one  lady  against 
the  post  of  the  awning. 

As  they  were  compelled  to  yield  to  force,  without  a 
word  of  remonstrance  they  started  back  toward  the 
church.  But  one  lady  put  her  arm  through  the 
officer’s  arm,  and  told  him  with  much  firmness,  that 
if  she  went,  he  should  go  too ! to  which  he  was  con- 
strained to  submit.  The  occasion  was  improved  to 
the  edification  of  that  officer,  who  w'as  met  at  the 
church  and  confronted,  not  with'  Crusaders  only,  but 
a goodly  number  of  indignant  friends. 

The  next  day  they  were  out  as  usual,  and  were 
arrested  before  the  Web  Foot  saloon,  and  taken  to 
the  city  jail,  where  they  spent  a couple  of  hours  in 
prayer  and  song,  to  their  own  refreshment,  and  the 
delight  of  the  other  prisoners.  Counsel  was  not  lack- 
ing who  volunteered  to  defend  them.  A special  ses- 
sion of  the  court  was  called,  Messrs.  C.  W.  Parish 
and  H.  Y.  Thompson  appearing  for  the  accused. 
After  a hearing  of  the  complaint.  Judge  Denny  de- 
cided that  there  was  no  ordinance  under  which  they 
could  be  held,  saying,  in  substance,  that  had  there 
been  such  an  ordinance  it  would  have  been  illegal,  as 
the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Oregon  and  of  the 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON.  703 

United  States  permitted  every  person  to  worship  God 
accordine  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience. 

The  arrest  of  the  ladies  created,  of  course,  a strong 
feeling  of  indignation  in  the  community  among  their 
friends,  and  rejoicing  among  their  enemies. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  i6th  of  April,  1874,  the 
Crusaders,  sixteen  in  number,  paid  another  visit  to 
the  Web  Foot  saloon.  But  no  sooner  had  they  ap- 
peared in  front  of  his  place,  and  asked  permission 
to  pray  and  sing  there,  than  Mr.  Moffett  blew  his 
policeman’s  whistle,  and  by  means  of  gongs,  drums, 
hand-organs,  etc.,  collected  a large  crowd  which  soon 
entirely  surrounded  them;  in  this  situation  they  main- 
tained their  calmness  and  endeavored  to  carry  on 
their  devotional  exercises.  The  noise  of  gongs  and 
drums,  tin  cans  and  hand-organs,  together  with  the 
murmurings  and  shoutings  of  the  mob,  was  so  great 
that  they  were  not  heard  even  by  themselves.  But 
still  they  sang  and  knelt  in  prayer,  keeping  a serene 
and  joyous  trust  in  God. 

The  scene  which  was  then  and  there  enacted  rivalled 
pandemonium.  Many  of  the  friends  of  the  ladies 
anxious  for  their  safety  hurried  to  the  place,  augment- 
ing the  crowd  already  collected,  thereby  increasing 
the  apparent  danger.  A large  proportion  of  those 
present  were  street  idlers,  some  of  them  roughs  and 
blackguards;  but  even  the  roughest,  if  not  intoxicated, 
felt  the  course  Mr.  Moffett  was  taking  to  be  uncalled- 
for  and  outrageous,  and  were  disposed  to  fight  in  be- 
half of  the  women. 

The  ladies,  on  their  part,  could  not  be  heard,  even 


704 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


in  remonstrance.  To  escape  from  the  crowd  would 
have  been  nearly  impossible,  if  they  had  made  the 
effort.  But  they  did  not  make  the  effort.  Their  faith 
in  the  protection  of  God,  and  His  very  presence  with 
them,  never  wavered.  Although  they  could  not  com- 
municate with  each  other,  because  of  the  roar  and 
clamor  of  the  mob,  each  one  of  them  felt  so  firmly 
impressed  with  the  sense  of  security  in  Divine  assist- 
ance, that  not  one  of  them  betrayed  or  felt  any  fear. 
Pistols  and  knives  were  drawn,  furniture  thrown 
about,  and  windows  broken.  One  lady  was  struck  by 
a tumbler  thrown  out  of  the  saloon,  and  another  had 
a pistol  held  at  her  head  by  Mr.  Moffett  himself. 

This  strange  scene  was  prolonged  from  half-past 
two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  until  six  in  the  evening — 
until  the  gong-beaters,  drummers,  and  organ-grinders 
had  become  exhausted,  and  the  mob  was  wearv  of  its 
own  riotousness.  When  the  way  was  cleared,  the 
ladies  took  their  leave,  having  endured  for  three  and 
a-half  hours  such  things  as  would  commonly  have 
driven  them  mad  with  fright,  or  caused  them  to  faint 
or  go  into  convulsions.  If  there  are  those  who  do  not 
believe  in  Divine  interposition  in  certain  cases,  here  is 
a problem  for  them  to  solve.. 

More  than  one  man  that  day  was  convinced  of  his 
sins;  and  quite  a number  of  drinking  men  declared 
themselves  converted  to  temperance,  simply  by  wit- 
nessing the  depths  of  degradation  to  which  the  habit 
of  selling  liquor  could  bring  a man. 

The  wife  of  an  Irish  drayman  said  to  a friend  of  the 
Crusaders,  “ My  husband  is  a drinking  man,  and  many 


^ CRUSADE  IN  OREGON.  705 

is  the  dollar  he  has  spent  at  Moffett’s,  but  he  says  he 
will  never  buy  another  glass  at  that  place.” 

Among  the  children  whom  Mr.  Moffett  was  trying 
to  press  into  his  service  was  a little  son  of  one  of  the 
Crusaders.  Being  told  to  beat  a drum,  he  took  the 
sticks  and  threw  them  among  the  crowd.  On  being 
threatened  with  punishment  if  he  did  not  recover 
them,  he  ran  in  amongr  the  crowd  as  if  to  look  for  the 
lost  sticks,  but  instead  made  his  way  to  his  mother, 
who  was  kneeling  in  prayer,  and  remained  by  her  side 
until  she  left  the  place. 

It  may  be  asked,  what  were  the  police  doing  all  this 
time  ? 

On  the  previous  occasion  Judge  Denny  had  dis- 
missed  the  complaint,  so  it  seemed  of  little  use  to 
arrest  the  ladies,  and  they  allowed  Mr.  Moffett  to  con- 
duct his  riot  in  his  own  fashion. 

On  the  following  morning  they  visited  the  saloons, 
and  in  due  time  appeared  before  Mr.  Moffett’s;  im- 
mediately a crowd  was  attracted  to  the  spot  in  expec- 
tation that  the  scenes  of  the  day  before  would  be 
repeated.  But  they  were  disappointed.  Mrs.  Moffett 
was  there  with  one  of  her  children,  and  no  disturbance 
was  raised.  She  appealed  to  the  ladies  to  leave  her 
husband  to  his  own  ways  ; but  was  met  by  an  eloquent 
counter-appeal  by  one  of  the  band,  whose  father  had 
jJerished  by  drink,  and  whose  son,  though  carefully 
reared,  was  on  the  road  to  ruin  from  the  same  cause. 

At  half-past  eleven.  Chief  of  Police  Lappens  ap- 
peared, bearing  a warrant,  which,  upon  being  shown 

to  the  ladies,  they  obeyed  by  accompanying  him  to  the 
45 


7o6 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


jail.  An  immense  crowd  followed  to  the  very  en- 
trance of  the  building,  to  which  the  Crusaders  gave 
no  heed,  but  entered,  singing, 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’  name.” 

At  one  o’clock  p.  m.,  the  court  convened.  The 
usual  dock  was  filled  with  ladies  as  well  as  half  the 
usual  audience-room  outside  the  bar.  The  charores 

o 

against  them  were  made  by  Mr.  Moffett,  for  “wilfully 
and  unlawfully  conducting  themselves  in  a disorderly 
and  violent  manner,  by  making  a loud  noise,  and 
creating  a disturbance  whereby  the  peace  and  quiet 
of  the  said  city  was  disturbed.”  Air.  Ct'oniii  was 
Mr.  Moffett’s  counsel,  and  Messrs.  Parish,  North- 
rop, and  Shoup  defended  the  ladies.  This,  as  will  be 
seen,  was  a charge  made  by  Mr.  Moffett  himself,  who 
had  prepared  for  and  conducted  the  riot  himself,  while 
the  ladies  stood  as  silent  witnesses  of  the  scene.  Mr. 
Cronin  opened  the  case.  Mr.  Gibbs  responded.  He 
said  processions  had  marched  through  the  town,  block- 
ading the  streets ; the  gospel  had  been  preached  to 
listening  crowds  at  the  street  corners ; Chinamen  had 
come  out  on  the  public  thoroughfares,  beating  gongs, 
exploding  fire-crackers,  and  making  hideous  noises; 
and  for  all  this  there  never  had  been  an  arrest.  It 
would  be  shown  that  if  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  city 
were  disturbed,  that  they  did  not  do  it;  that  they 
broke  nobody’s  window,  harmed  no  man,  woman,  or 
child,  and  that  they  were  not  responsible  for  the  beat- 
ing of  gongs,  or  the  sounding  of  trumpets,  and  the 
hooting  and  howling  of  disorderly  men. 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


707 


Moffett  was  the  first  witness.  I can  only  give  a 
part  of  his  testimony.  Being  cross-examined,  he  said: 

“There  was  a great  crowd,  probably  a thousand 
persons,  two  or  three  fights  took  place,  and  a man  was 
stabbed.  At  the  time  the  disturbance  was  going  on, 
the  women  sung  very  loud.” 

“But  did  you  see  the  defendants  do  anything.^  ” 

“ They  would  not  move  when  I asked  them.” 

“What  were  you  doing?  ” 

“Trying  to  keep  the  peace.”  (Laughter.) 

“ Did  you  have  a pistol  to  keep  the  peace  with  ? ” 

“ No,  sir.” 

“ Now  I ask  you  if  you  did  not  have  a pistol  in  your 
hand  at  the  time  this  occurrence  took  place  ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“Then  when  you  stated  a while  ago  that  you  did 
not  have  a pistol,  you  did  not  state  what  was  true  ? ” 

“I  did  not  have  it  to  keep  the  peace  with,  but  for 
protection  ; they  were  stealing  my  property.” 

This  is  a sample  of  Moffett’s  testimony. 

Allen  Griffith  testified  for  the  defence,  to  having  seen 
Moffett’s  barkeeper.  Good,  throw  water,  by  means  of  a 
hose,  on  the  sidewalk,  at  the  saloon,  while  the  ladies 
were  present;  also  saw  Good  in  a row — saw  him  close 
to  the  ladies. 

Mr.  Shoup. — What  was  he  doing  at  that  time? 

Witness. — One  of  the  times  when  he  was  particu- 
larly near  to  them  he  was  holding  a gong  within  a 
few  inches  of  a lady’s  ear,  and  beating  it  very  loudly. 
I saw  him  lift  her  veil  at  one  time. 

C.  H.  Williams  spoke  of  having  been  attracted  to 


7o8 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


Moffett’s  saloon,  April  1 6th,  by  the  noise  of  gongs  and 
drum-beating. 

Mr.  Cronin  (Moffett’s  attorney). — Was  your  wife 
among  the  ladies  that  day  ? 

Witness. — She  was  not ; I only  wish  she  had  been. 

Mr.  Cronin  asked  Thomas  A.  Royal,  of  the  Portland 
Academy,  another  witness,  if  he  had  counselled  the 
women  not  to  go  to  Moffett’s  saloon. 

He  answered : “ I have  not,  but  I have  asked  my  wife 
to  go.” 

This,  though  a small  part  of  the  testimony,  will  show 
the  drift  of  the  trial,  which  lasted  four  days.  The  tes- 
timony was  clear  as  to  the  pure  moral  character  and 
good  behavior  of  the  women  ; the  speeches  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  women  were  able.  The  case  was  one  of 
the  clearest  that  ever  went  before  an  American  jur)'. 

Judge  Denny  briefly  charged  the  jury,  reminding 
them  that  all  they  were  called  upon  to  decide,  from  the 
evidence,  was,  whether  the  defendants  were  guilty,  as 
charged  in  the  complaint,  of  wilfully  and  unlawfully 
making  a loud  noise,  whereby  the  peace  and  quiet  of 
the  city  was  disturbed.  They  were  also  advised  that 
it  would  be  their  duty  to  give  the  prisoners  the  benefit 
of  any  reasonable  doubt.  The  jury  was  out  several 
hours,  but  returned  with  a verdict  of  “guilty,”  but  rec- 
ommended to  the  merciful  consideration  of  the  court. 
Upon  the  request  of  Mr.  Parrish,  the  judge  consented 
to  stay  sentence  till  the  next  morning,  to  give  defend- 
ants time  to  file  a motion  to  arrest  judgment.  The 
motion  to  arrest  judgment  being  overruled,  the  ladies 
presented  the  following  protest: 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


709 


^^Your  Honor:  We  do  protest  against  any  sentence 
being  passed  upon  us,  for  the  following  reasons; 

“ I.  That  the  verdict  was  contrary  to  the  testimony, 
and  to  the  charge  of  your  honor,  in  that  the  testi- 
mony clearly  shows,  by  numerous  witnesses,  that  we 
were  quiet  and  orderly  in  the  midst  of  disorder  and 
confusion.  To  such  an  extent  did  some  of  us  preserve 
quiet,  that  we  did  not  so  much  as  open  our  mouths, 
either  in  song  or  in  prayer,  as  your  honor  will  observe 
by  referring  to  the  testimony. 

“ 2.  We,  as  temperance  women,  do  earnestly  protest 
against  being  sentenced  on  the  finding  of  a jury  com- 
posed in  part  of  liquor-dealers,  who,  according  to  the 
words  of  their  oath,  had  already  prejudged  us. 

“If  we  may  be  allowed  to  mention  the  work  in 
which  we  are  enijaued,  we  should  like  to  do  so.  The 
crime  being  supposed  to  be  in  the  intent,  we  would  re- 
mind your  honor  that  the  husbands  and  fathers  of  the 
land  are  being  stricken  down  on  every  side  by  this  vile 
traffic  against  which  we  wage  war,  and  that  the  sons 
of  the  land  are  so  beset  by  temptation  that  very  many 
of  them  fall  early  into  a drunkard’s  grave,  and  many 
more  who  live  on,  but  live  to  disappoint  the  fond  hopes 
which  are  centred  in  them,  and  which,  but  for  this  fell 
destroyer,  they  might  fulfil.  These  evils,  your  honor, 
are  not  in  far-off  lands,  but  at  our  own  doors,  as  that 
wife  can  testify,  who  a few  months  since  went  to  a 
prominent  saloon  in  this  city  and  plead  with  the  pro- 
prietor to  sell  her  husband  no  more  liquor,  as  her  life 
was  in  danger  whenever  that  husband  came  home 
under  its  influence,  and  she  was  coldly  told : ‘ O,  well, 


710 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


if  I do  not  sell  him  liquor  some  one  else  will’  Oi 
that  other  wife  whose  twenty  years’  experience  has  de- 
prived her  of  everything  the  heart  holds  dear,  ‘ but 
her  trust  in  God,’  whose  husband  can  go  and  keep  the 
books  at  this  same  saloon,  and  Saturday  night  take  his 
pay  in  this  cursed  fire-water,  and  go  to  his  home  to 
make  it  such  a hell  upon  earth  that  the  children  must 
be  sent  from  the  house  and  the  wife  remain  in  terror 
of  her  life.  Such  instances  are  not  rare ; and  it  is  in 
behalf  of  these  sufferingr  sisters  that  we  act.  We  have 
not  power  to  amend  the  laws ; but  since  the  day  when 
woman  was  first  at  the  sepulchre,  it  has  been  her  con- 
ceded right  to  pray,  and  this  right  we  claim  as  inalien- 
ably ours. 

“The  jury  have  kindly  recommended  us  to  mercy; 
we  ask  no  mercy — we  demand  justice.” 

THE  LOGICAL  CONCLUSION. 

The  judge,  with  evident  embarrassment,  replied  that 
the  jury  had  been  fairly  and  “ impartially  selected  in 
accordance  with  law.”  He  also  took  occasion  to  ad- 
vise the  ladies  not  to  attempt  to  overcome  the  evil 
they  were  warring  against  by  such  means  as  they  had 
been  using,  but  to  go  to  the  “ fountain  head.” 

The  penalty  was  five  dollars  fine  each,  or  one  day’s 
imprisonment.  The  ladies  refused  to  pay  the  fine  or 
allow  the  gentlemen  present  to  pay  it  for  them,  electing 
to  go  to  prison.  They  were  shown  to  their  common 
apartment  in  the  jail,  and  gave  up  their  only  weapon, 
their  Bibles.  There  was  an  indignation  meeting  in 
one  of  the  churches  that  night,  and  between  eight  and 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


71I 

nine  o’clock,  fearing  the  people,  an  officer  came  to  the 
jail  and  rudely  ordered  them  to  leave.  The  ladies 
hesitated  about  going  out  into  the  darkness  alone, 
expressing  a preference  to  remain,  to  which  he  replied, 
“I’m  boss  here;  you  leave.”  Thus  thrust  out,  they 
made  their  way  to  the  church.  The  first  intimation 
the  audience  had  of  the  release  of  the  ladies  was  their 
presence  in  the  church.  Such  enthusiastic  cheering 
took  place  as  had  never  been  heard  within  those  walls. 
When  the  tumult  had  subsided,  some  of  the  ladies 
made  short  addresses,  in  which  they  recounted  the 
circumstances  of  their  dismissal  and  their  hesitating 
flight. 

o 

The  Crusade  work  continued  without  any  abatement 
of  zeal.  The  liquor-dealers  held  meetings  to  devise 
means  to  protect  their  rights.  Their  doors  were 
closed,  and  the  women  met  with  universal  coldness 
and  hardness.  Mr.  Moffett  persisted  in  his  open 
insults,  treating  the  ladies  with  great  personal  indignity. 
At  last  forbearance  gave  way,  and  Mr.  Moffett  was 
arraigned  for  insulting  conduct  toward  Mrs.  H.  B. 
Stitzel.  The  case  was  tried  before  Justice  Ryan,  with 
a jury  of  liquor-men.  Mr.  Moffett  was  discharged. 
Another  complaint  was  entered  by  Mrs.  Alice  Fain, 
for  assault,  by  making  her  ill  by  burning  some 
poisonous  substance  in  her  face.  In  both  these  cases 
Mr.  Moffett  was  defended  by  E.  A.  Cronin,  who 
seemed  to  be  inspired  by  the  spirit  of  his  employer, 
and  grossly  insulted  the  ladies  by  telling  them,  in  his 
speech,  that  he  believed  they  were  as  base  and  corrupt 
in  heart  “ as  any  zvoman  in  this  town,  no  matter  zuhat  her 


712 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


calling  07'-  charactery  The  jury  in  this  case,  which  was 
tried  before  Justice  Crich,  consisted  of  four  liquor-men 
and  two  Germans,  Moffett  was  again  discharged. 

An  enthusiastic  meeting  of  ladies  was  held,  and  able 
speeches  were  made,  and  published.  The  better  class 
of  citizens,  and  the  Congregational  Church,  in  council, 
gave  the  Crusaders  their  formal  indorsement.  In 
the  meantime  the  usual  work  of  visiting  the  saloons 
went  on ; petitions  were  circulated ; and  public  senti- 
ment thoroughly  aroused. 

On  the  1 8th  June,  the  mayor  approved  an  ordinance, 
which  had  been  secured  mainly  through  their  influence, 
raising  the  license  from  ^50  to  ^100  per  quarter,  and 
requiring  $1,000  bonds  to  keep  orderly  houses,  with 
some  other  restrictions.  This  aroused  the  liquor-men 
to  still  greater  opposition.  One  gentleman,  whose 
wife  was  connected  with  the  Crusade,  was  notified  to 
take  his  wife  off  the  street  or  suffer  the  loss  of  his 
business,  through  the  enmity  of  the  liquor  association. 
“Very  well,”  he  replied,  “it  took  a higher  power  than 
I to  place  her  on  the  street,  and  it  will  require  a higher 
power  to  remove  her.  If  you  want  to  ruin  my  busi- 
ness, you  can  try  it.  I will  certainly  fight  yours  as  long 
as  I live.” 

But  they  had  many  kind  words,  and  much  to 
encouragfe  them  in  their  difficult  work.  Mrs.  A.  C. 
Gibbs  arose  in  a ladies’  meeting  one  day,  and  told  the 
Crusaders,  for  their  encouragement,  that  during  a visit 
to  Puget  Sound,  from  which  she  had  just  returned,  she 
had  learned,  to  her  surprise,  that  the  temperance 
movement  had  produced  the  best  effects  over  there. 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


713 

In  a conversation  between  the  captain  of  a Sound 
steamer,  and  other  gentlemen,  it  was  asserted  that  the 
liquor  traffic  had  fallen  off  one-third ; that  he  knew  it 
by  the  less  amount  he  carried  on  his  boat.  Also,  that 
whereas  all  the  men  on  his  vessel  used  to  take  their 
grog,  none  of  them  did  so  now ; and  that  a drinking- 
stand,  kept  on  one  of  the  wharves  for  the  express  con- 
venience of  this  class  of  men,  which  used  to  make  a 
profit  of  twenty-seven  dollars  a day,  dwindled  in  its 
receipts  to  three  dollars,  and  finally  closed.  Such  a 
fact  was  certainly  encouraging,  as  a result  of  four 
months  of  labor,  ho  matter  how  arduous. 

MURDER  IN  A SALOON. 

On  the  Saturday  evening  immediately  preceding  the 
city* election,  at  nine  o’clock,  a certain  lady  was  reciting 
to  the  audience  at  the  church  an  incident  that  came 
under  her  notice  four  years  previous,  of  a woman’s 
shooting  a man  in  a Portland  saloon  because  he  failed 
to  vote  as  he  was  instructed,  after  having  been  fur- 
nished free  drinks  for  a month  at  her  place. 

Almost  at  that  very  moment,  a murder  was  being 
perpetrated  in  a place  of  similar  character,  but  under 
somewhat  different  circumstances.  In  this  case  the 
woman  had  only  given  the  murderer  drugged  liquor 
enough  to  make  him  either  stupid  or  crazy.  Unfortu- 
nately it  had  the  latter  effect,  and  to  save  herself  from 
his  pistol  she  had  called  on  the  police,  and  officer 
Schoppe  entering  at  the  moment  when  the  deadly  in- 
strument was  raised,  was  instantly  shot  fatally,  and 
fell. 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON. 


Here  was  a pointed  example,  if  such  were  wanting, 
of  the  criminality  of  the  saloon  business.  It  might  be 
made  use  of  to  influence  the  election  on  Monday.  But 
it  was  not ; because  it  happened  late  Saturday  even- 
ing, and  on  Sunday,  atone  o’clock,  the  man  was  buried 
out  of  siMit ! 

o 

THE  ORDINANCE  AGAIN. 

When  the  new  councilmen  came  in  they  found  the 
ordinance  increasing  liquor  licenses  signed  by  the 
mayor,  and  ready  to  go  into  effect  with  the  commence- 
ment of  the  quarter  beginning  Jul5^  ist.  An  effort 
was  immediately  made  to  get  an  ordinance  passed 
reducing  licenses  to  their  former  rates  ; but  this  was 
prevented  by  the  mayor,  two  of  the  old  councilmen  and 
one  of  the  new. 

Then  followed  a petition  from  fifty-six  liquor-sellers 
and  eighty-seven  others,  to  have  licenses  reduced  to 
fifty  dollars  per  quarter,  and  such  pressure  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  council  that  the  mayor  notified  the 
temperance  people  that  unless  they  sent  in  a coun- 
ter-petition, the  council  might  not  be  able  to  with- 
stand it. 

Accordingly  a counter-petition  was  circulated,  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty  names  obtained,  of  the  heaviest  tax- 
payers in  the  city,  wfiio  were  not  liquor-dealers.  Both 
oetitions  went  before  the  council.  That  same  evening- 

X o 

an  ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  by  the  mayor, 
reducing  licenses  ^to  fifty  dollars  ! It  contained,  it  is 
true,  some  provision  for  bonds  being  given  ; but  how 
soon  may  we  look  to  see  even  that  repealed  ? 


CRUSADE  IN  OREGON, 


715 


What  is  this  power  of  whiskey  that  makes  men  dis- 
regard everything  else  ? 

An  attempt  was  made  to  pass  a law  against  singing 
and  praying  in  the  street,  but  it  was  not  successful.  The 
council  did,  however,  ordain  that  no  drinking-houses 
should  be  kept  by  women.  I add  the  names  of  the 
noble  women  of  Portland,  who  consecrated  themselves 
to  this  work,  and  pursued  it  so  successfully,  notwith- 
standing the  apathy  of  the  masses,  the  corruption  of 
the  courts,  and  the  ruffianism  of  the  saloon-keepers: 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Mitchell;  Mrs.  Helen  Sparrow;  Mrs.  J. 
H.  Reid ; Mrs.  Jane  Pierpont ; Mrs.  J.  S.  Briggs ; Mrs, 
Josephine  Ritter;  Mrs.  A.  R.  Medbury ; Mrs.  Catherine 
Sparks;  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Holman;  Mrs.  M.  Ouacken- 
bush;  Mrs.  G.  Shindler;  Mrs.  Maggie  Wilson;  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Jean ; Mrs.  S.  D.  Francis ; Mrs.  H.  V. 
Stitzel ; Mrs.  Rachel  Clark  ; Mrs.  L.  F.  Turner ; Mrs. 
M.  E.  Sutherland;  Mrs.  E.  C.  Hall;  Mrs.  E.  Watkins ; 
Mrs.  W.  B.  Eain;  Mrs.  E.  O.  Corson;  Mrs,  N.  S. 
Swafford ; Mrs.  Dr.  Atkinson ; Mrs.  G.  W.  Izer ; Mrs. 
J.  Smith ; Mrs.  T.  E.  Royal ; Mrs.  Lucy  Patton ; Mrs. 
J.  E.  Jones ; Mrs.  W.  P.  Jones  ; Mrs.  E.  Richards  ; Mrs. 
Kimberline ; Mrs.  Lillie  ; Mrs.  J.  R.  Robb ; Mrs.  M.  M. 
Smith ; Mrs.  Emma  Morgan  ; Mrs.  Murray ; Mrs.  Con- 
nell; Mrs.  J.  A.  Robb;  Mrs.  L.  L.  Bond;  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Fletcher;  Mrs.  J.  F.  DeVore ; Mrs.  O.  B.  Gibson; 
Mrs.  Dr.  Sawtelle ; Mrs.  Wm.  Roberts;  Mrs.  Benj, 
Thomas;  Mrs.  L.  Blackstone;  Mrs.  A.  Allen;  Mrs.  F, 
Pierce ; Mrs.  J.  Stitzel ; Mrs.  A.  Hurgren ; Mrs.  G. 
W.  Traver;  Mrs.  Morris;  Miss  J.  Pumphrey;  Miss  L. 
A.  Mitchell;  Miss  Mary  DeVore;  Miss  Orra  Sparks; 


7i6 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


Miss  Sarah  Sparks ; Miss  Olive  Padget ; Miss  Mary 
Harrington;  Miss  Mell  Cranston;  Miss  Marion  Francis; 
Miss  Ida  Francis ; Miss  Helena  Holman;  Miss  Mary 
Test ; Miss  Eliza  Richards  ; Miss  Edith  Sutherland. 


NEW  JERSEY. 

The  work  in  this  State  beran  in  the  citv  of  Newark, 
April  1 6th,  1874. 

Newark  was  the  largest  town  in  the  State,  and  a 
stronghold  of  the  liquor  traffic.  But  the  fire  kindled 
there  has  spread  from  town  to  town,  till  the  whole 
State  rinCTs  with  the  watchword  of  the  Woman’s  Tern- 

O 

perance  Union — “New  Jersey  for  Christ  and  Tetn- 
perance!  ’ 

NEWARK,  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  call  that  brought  the  ladies  together  was  anony- 
mous; but  though  thus  unexpectedly  called  to  face 
the  responsibility  of  the  temperance  work  in  a great, 
wicked  city,  they  were  too  loyal  to  God  and  the  cause 
to  hesitate. 

They  prepared  themselves  for  the  work  by  a special 
and  entire  consecration,  and  waited  before  God  for  an 
open  door,  and  the  voice  of  command. 

The  work  came  to  them  in  a most  unexpected  man- 
ner. At  the  close  of  one  of  their  meetings,  a forlorn, 
miserable-looking  sort  of  a man  came  dragging  his 
feet  along  just  within  the  door,  and  tumbled  into  the 
chair  that  was  near,  being  then  somewhat  under  the 
influence  of  liquor.  After  sitting  a few  moments,  he 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


717 


arose  with  some  difficulty  to  his  feet,  and  commenced 
speaking  quite  indistinctly,  as  if  rather  talking  to 
himself  The  first  words  that  could  be  understood 
were,  “ I am  a poor,  miserable,  lost,  wretched  and 
drunken  engineer,  and  I am  drunk  now ; do  you 
think  that  I can  be  saved?”  He  then  went  on  to  tell 
of  his  dreadful  life,  how  for  over  twenty  years  he  had 
been  drinking,  ruining  himself  and  family  till  he  had 
become  a worthless  vagabond,  and  was  lost  and 
ruined  both  soul  and  body  forever.  While  standing  in 
a half-bent  attitude  describing  himself  and  his  wretched 

O 

condition,  in  most  piteous  tones,  the  heart  of  every 
individual  who  had  remained  there  was  melted  in 
sympathy.  He  said  he  did  not  know  why  he  came 
into  that  room,  or  how  he  came  there,  but  that  a 
conviction  of  his  guilt  and  ruin  came  over  him  the 
moment  that  he  entered  it,  and  while  thus  speaking, 
he  commenced  to  sob  and  weep  aloud,  saying : “ Will 
you  pray  for  me  ?”  Trembling  and  excited  he  got  on 
his  knees,  and  in  the  agony  of  despair  he  prayed  that 
God  would  save  him.  Those  who  were  there  to  pray 
were  bowed  low  in  the  dust,  as  never  before,  con- 
scious of  the  power  and  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
all  remaining  on  their  knees  in  prayer,  till  he  yielded 
his  heart  to  Jesus  in  penitence  and  tears,  when  he,  a 
saved  and  sober  man,  testified  to  the  riches  of  Divine 
grace  which  could  reach  and  rescue  even  a great 
sinner  like  himself  And  on  that  morning  of  the 
8th  of  May,  1874,  he  left  the  hall,  which  he  entered  in 
such  darkness  and  misery,  with  the  light  and  peace  in 
his  soul  which  Jesus  only  can  give.  To  His  dear 
name  be  all  the  glory! 


7i8 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


This  small  band,  who  continued  to  wait  on  the 
Lord,  were  enabled  on  that  May  morning  to  erect  a 
signal  of  praise  over  this  first  marked  and  wonderful 
display  of  the  marvellous  power  of  God  to  save,  and 
His  readiness  to  hear  and  to  grant  an  immediate 
answer  to  prayer. 

Some  of  the  very  worst-looking  men  would  most 
strangely  find  their  way  into  that  meeting  without 
knowing  how  or  why  they  came.  Almost  as  soon  as 
they  entered  and  heard  the  voice  of  prayer,  they 
would  rise  and  ask  to  be  prayed  for  as  poor  lost  sin- 
ners, and  continue  in  prayer  till  they  found  the 
Saviour.  Others  were  invited  or  led  in,  even  when 
intoxicated,  and  were  eventually  saved. 

As  the  work  progressed,  evening  meetings,  cottage- 
meetings,  and  Tuesday  afternoon  services  were  estab- 
lished in  different  places  at  the  houses  of  inebriates 
and  reformed  men,  which  were  well  attended,  and 
were  successful  and  blessed  in  their  results. 

The  number  of  workers  was  small,  and  the  difficul- 
ties great,  but  God  was  with  them. 

I take  the  following  from  a report  of  the  work: 

On  the  second  Sunday  in  January,  1875,  Mr.  John 
Garrabrant  (who  had  been  an  instrument  in  God’s 
hand  of  great  assistance  to  us)  invited  Mr.  William 
Souter  (who  was  called  the  drunken  tailor)  to  come 
to  our  meeting.  He  came,  forlorn  and  helpless  as  if 
about  giving  up;  he  thought  and  felt  himself,  that 
there  was  no  use  in  trying.  He  was  induced  to  get 
on  his  knees  with  us,  and  was  told  to  sign  himself  to 
Jesus.  The  Holy  Spirit  then  and  there  commenced 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK, 


719 


the  work  In  his  heart,  and  from  that  moment  he  began 
a new  life,  and  broke  off  entirely  from  his  evil  habits, 
and  became  a changed  man,  giving  his  heart  to  the 
Saviour.  Oh,  what  a glorious  day  for  him!  Our 
rejoicing  for  a good  while  over  him  was  with  trem- 
bling; but  oh,  how  we  have  blessed  God  for  such  a 
triumph  of  grace,  ever  since!  A new  beacon  of  hope 
and  light  was  erected,  and  what  an  encouragement  it 
was  for  perseverance  in  earnest  and  united  prayer  for 
that  class  of  men!  New  ones  found  their  way  into 
these  meetings,  which  awakened  a greater  degree  of 
interest  and  earnestness  in  the  work. 

Among  the  first  of  these  special  cases  was  the 
coming  in  of  a man,  rather  small,  but  with  such  a 
black  and  wicked  sort  of  expression  of  countenance 
as  one  would  instinctively  shrink  from.  He  seemed 
in  every  way  strangely  repulsive,  but  my  eyes  were 
riveted  to  him^as  he  took  a low  seat  just  back  of  the 
door,  holding  his  head  down  as  if  to  hide  himself  in 
his  soiled  and  shabby  garments.  He  came  invited  by 
the  Bible  reader,  who  met  him  in  the  morning.  He 
was  cold,  and  as  he  said  thought  he  could  get  warm 
in  there,  but  thought  of  nothing  more. 

V^ry  soon,  as  I watched  him,  he  became  very  un- 
easy, moved  about  until  he  arose  to  his  feet  and  began 
talking  of  his  miserable  life,  and  of  the  terribly  wicked 
and  abandoned  condition  that  he  was  in.  He  said 
that  he  had  been  drinking,  and  was  drunk  when  he 
came  in  there;  but  said  he,  I will  never  drink  again, 
no,  never;  while  I live  I’ll  never  touch  another  drop. 
Is  there  any  mercy  for  such  a vile  wretch  as  I am? 


720 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


And  then  dropping  to  his  knees  he  began  to  pray  for 
himself,  and  cry  to  God  for  mercy.  He  was  truly  and 
deeply  convicted  of  his  guilt  as  a sinner,  and  sought 
earnestly  to  know  the  way  to  a better  course  of  life, 
and  to  give  his  heart  to  Jesus.  Prayer  was  offered  for 
him,  and  the  meeting  closed;  but  as  he  still  remained 
I was  unusually  impressed  to  speak  to  him.  But  as  I 
approached  him,  he  was  so  forlorn  and  disagreeable 
from  being  steeped  with  rum  and  tobacco,  that  the 
first  thing  I asked  him  was,  if  he  would  give  up  his 
tobacco  as  well  as  strong  drink.  Laying  my  hand  on 
his  shoulder,  I said,  “Will  you,  my  poor  brother,  give 
up  everything  and  make  a full  surrender  of  yourself 
to  Jesus,  and  become  pure  and  clean,  and  not  offensive 
and  repugnant  as  you  are  now?” 

“ I will  give  up  the  drink,  but  can’t  say  I will  to- 
bacco, for  I don’t  think  I could.” 

I urged  the  point;  he  demurred,  but  finally  said  he 
would  try. 

“ No  use  in  trying:  you  must  do  it;  say  you  will','  I 
still  uro^ed. 

o 

“ But  it  would  not  do  for  me  to  give  up  all  at  once 
when  I have  been  chewing  two  papers  every  day,  and 
often  a orood  deal  more,  besides  smokinsf:  it  would 
make  me  sick  to  break  riorht  off.” 

O 

“Not  if  Jesus  helps  you,”  I said,  “and  He  zuill.  In 
your  own  strength  you  can  never  do  it;  in  either  case 
in  His  strength  you  can.  Now  promise  me  you  will.” 

“ If  I promise  you,”  he  said,  “ I shall  do  it,  for  bad 
as  I am  I never  tell  a lie.” 

“Then  promise  me,  quickly,”  I still  urged;  and 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


721 


never  shall  I forget  the  look  he  gave  me,  as  for  a 
moment  he  bowed  his  head,  and  then,  as  he  raised  it 
in  trembling  earnestness, 

“Give  me  your  hand,”  said  he,  seizing  it  as  with  a 
grasp  of  desperation.  “ Now  I promise  you,  God 
helping  me,  that  never  from  this  time  will  I touch 
tobacco  or  drink  again.-  Now  I have  promised,  I shall 
keep  it.” 

Earnest  prayer  was  offered,  and  from  that  moment 
our  brother,  William  N.  Clark,  became  a sober,  re- 
newed, and  changed  man. 

What  human  power  could  have  annihilated  in  an 
instant  the  appetite  and  all  desire  for  strong  drink  or 
tobacco  in  any  form,  where  it  had  been  almost  a life- 
long habit,  indulged  in  without  restraint  day  and  night, 
obtained  at  any  and  every  sacrifice  ? Who  can  doubt 
that  a will  like  his  was  at  that  time  brought  into  and 
held  in  subjection  by  the  will  and  strength  of  Omnipo- 
tence? He  was  enabled  to  surrender  himself,  soul  and 
body,  into  the  hands  of  Jesus,  and  he  left  the  hall, 
never  more  to  touch,  taste,  or  handle  those  two 
accursed  things.  His  former  appetite  and  love  for 
both  from  that  moment  was  so  turned  into  hatred  of 
the  sin  and  its  evil  results,  that  his  voice  was  raised  in 
denunciation  wherever  he  went.  His  whole  life,  since 
that  hour,  has  been  given  in  efforts  to  bring  others 
from  the  degradation  and  wretchedness  of  sin,  and  to 
win  them  to  Jesus. 

So  many  young  men  were  now  interested  that  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  organize  a reform  club,  to 
bind  them  more  strongly  together.  Such  an  organiza- 

46 


722 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


tion,  in  connection  with  the  Woman's  Temperance 
Union,  was  completed  on  the  4th  of  March,  1875. 
This  club  has  now  over  600  members. 

A Sunday-school  was  commenced,  and  is  still  in 
progress. 

The  4th  of  July  occurring  on  Sunday,  in  1875, 
there  were  rumors  of  preparations  already  in  progress 
to  celebrate  it  as  on  any  secular  day,  in  parades,  pro- 
cessions, martial  music,  and  other  public  demonstra- 
tions. Some  of  the  ladies  of  the  Union  resolved,  after 
taking  it  to  God  in  prayer  with  great  earnestness  and 
humility,  to  take  a bold  stand,  and  go  as  a committee 
to  the  City  Hall,  and  petition  the  mayor  to  interpose  in 
behalf  of  a God-fearing  people,  and  sustain  the  honor 
of  His  law,  “ Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it 
holy.”  It  was  said  by  many,  “ It  will  do  no  good  at 
all ; matters  have  gone  too  far.”  But  it  did  do  good. 
The  suggestion  was  very  kindly  received,  and  Mr. 
Perry’s  decided  and  prompt  action  not  only  entirely 
suppressed  the  threatened  fearful  desecration,  but  gave 
us  one  of  the  most  peaceful  and  quiet  Sabbaths  that 
we  have  had  in  this  city  for  many  years. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1875,  at  the  regular  meet- 
ings of  our  Union,  we  set  apart  a little  season,  just  at 
the  hour  of  twelve,  for  united  prayer  to  God.  And 
this  noon-day  concert  of  private  prayer  has  been 
observed  by  our  Union  since  that  day,  when,  by  the 
uplifting  of  the  right  hand,  as  requested,  to  signalize 
the  sacred  compact,  it  was  thus  ratified  by  every 
member  present. 

Surely  God,  the  Almighty  God  himself,  has  allied 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


723 


Himself  to  this  cause,  not  only  in  the  treasure  of  His 
grace,  but  in  the  treasury  of  His  means  also,  to  carry 
it  on  with ; for  it  is  a marvel  how  we  have  been  sup- 
plied and  carried  through  such  heavy  expenses  as 
came  upon  us  from  time  to  time,  and  are  able  to-day 
to  say  joyfully,  that  we  owe  no  man  anything.  Not 
unto  us  be  any  of  the  glory. 

An  humble  service,  if  the  calling  to  it  is  of  God,  is  a 
high,  a holy  calling.  lin  the  death  of  Judge  Stan- 
boro,  December  5th,  1875,  ^‘^st  one  of  our  firmest 

friends.  He  was  enabled,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two, 
to  give  up  entirely  the  use  of  tobacco  in  every  form, 
although  it  had  been  a habit  freely  indulged  in  for 
sixty  years.  He  kept  quiet  on  the  subject  till  he  could 
say,  after  the  experience  of  months,  that  he  was  a 
happier  and  better  man  without  it. 

One  of  the  reformed  brothers  who  had  received  his 
special  care  and  attention,  and  who  had  never  seen  a 
Christian  die,  watched  with  him  till  the  hour  of  his 
departure,  and  caught  these  his  last  words,  as  they 
fell  from  his  lips : “ Oh,  those  blessed  women — God 
bless  them!”  “Oh,  precious  Jesus!”  and  immediately 
expired. 

In  the  winter  of  1876,  a Juvenile  Society  and  Bands 
of  Hope  were  started,  and  have  been  well  sustained. 
Several  branches  also  have  been  formed  auxiliary  to 
the  Union. 

Mrs.  Blindage  adds  the  following  incidents : 

G- A , a young  man  having  all  the  advan- 

tages necessary  to  place  him  in  an  honorable  position, 
his  friends  giving  him  a liberal  education,  was  a student 


724  CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 

of  law.  But  rum,  that  great  curse,  laid  him  low  many 
times,  and  finally  he  became  a confirmed  drunkard. 

One  day  a minister  of  this  city  brought  him  into  our 
temperance  meeting,  suffering  with  delirium  tremens. 
H is  blood-shot  eye,  bloated,  purple  face,  trembling 
limbs,  quivering  body,  and  look  of  despair,  showed  that 
rum  had  almost  finished  its  work.  The  hardest  heart 
was  moved  to  pity. 

One  of  the  sisters  of  the  Union  seated  herself  by  his 
side  and  talked  with  him.  At  last  he  said,  “ hly  God, 
cannot  you  do  something  for  me?”  The  sweat  stood 
in  great  drops  on  his  brow.  She  told  him  just  there 
to  ask  Jesus  to  help  him,  and  He  would ; how  He 
could  cure  his  disease,  and  cleanse  from  all  sin.  As 
he  became  more  quiet,  he  told  of  his  wicked  life ; how 
his  mother  could  not  keep  him  any  longer,  as  she  kept 
boarders,  and  he  would^  do  anything  to  get  a drink. 
Whenever  she  gave  him  a new  suit  of  clothes,  he 
would  go  to  New  York,  exchange  them  for  an  old 
suit,  and  go  home  intoxicated.  A young  lady  gave 
him  a glass  at  a party,  and  urged  him  to  drink.  Till 
then  he  had  never  drank. 

Christian  friends  surrounded  him,  and  pointed  him 
to  the  Lamb  of  God.  In  pity,  love,  and  faith,  they 
bore  him  to  the  mercy-seat.  They  prayed  for  him  as 
one  prays  for  his  own  soul.  The  hlighty  to  Save 
heard,  and  cast  out  the  demon  rum,  and  he  was  saved 
from  that  hour. 

Kind  friends  watched  with  him  that  night,  and-  he 
was  restored  to  his  widowed  mother,  whom  he  had 
often  found  at  the  midnight  hour  kneeling  at  his  bed- 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


725 


side,  pleading  with  a covenant-keeping  God  for  her 
only  son.  He  has  since  shown,  by  his  walk  and  con- 
versation, that  the  work  is  genuine. 

Mr.  H.  had  a wife  and  six  children.  Like  many 
drunkards,  he  was  often  very  abusive,  and  would  take 
the  little  pittance  his  wife  earned  and  spend  it  for  rum, 
leaving  the  children  crying  for  bread  and  shivering 
with  cold. 

At  one  time  he  sent  a man  to  tell  his  wife  he  was 
arrested,  and  she  must  get  some  money  some  way  so 
he  would  not  have  to  go  to  prison.  She  did  so,  and 
he  spent  it  for  rum  with  his  accomplice.  At  times  he 
was  very  wretched  and  in  despair,  and  made  attempts 
to  hang  himself,  and  was  prevented  only  by  the  untir- 
inof  care  and  watchfulness  of  his  devoted  wife.  One 
night,  coming  home,  he  made  up  his  mind,  as  they 
would  not  let  him  hang  himself,  he  would  cut  his  wife’s 
throat  first,  then  the  children’s,  and  lastly  his  own. 
Before  going  to  bed  he  slipped  a razor  in  his  coat- 
sleeve.  His  wife  saw  him  do  it,  and  stealthily  left  the 
house  with  her  young  infant,  walking  half  a mile  in 
the  cold  wintry  night,  through  the  snow  and  sleet,  with 
only  a thin  shawl  wrapped  round  herself  and  babe,  to 
the  house  of  her  father-in-law,  where  she  stayed  all 
night.  The  father-in-law  asked  her  why  she  did  not 
leave  him ; if  she  would  do  so  he  would  take  care  of 
her  and  the  children,  and  send  her  husband  to  an  asy- 
lum. She  answered:  “I  cannot  leave  him;  he  is  my 
husband,  and  your  son,  the  father  of  my  children.” 

He  said  to  her:  “I  fear  you  will  all  be  murdered 
some  day  by  his  hand.” 


726 


CRUSADE  AT  NEWARK. 


When  the  husband  found  all  was  still,  he  arose  to 
accomplish  the  murderous  task  he  had  contemplated. 
He  saw  the  children  sleeping  quietly  together,  and 
searched  for  the  mother.  Not  finding-  her  he  con- 

o 

eluded  it  was  not  best  to  kill  the  children,  as  she  was 
gone.  He  says  it  makes  him  shudder  now  when  he 
thinks  what  might  have  happened  if.the  enemy  had  put 
it  into  his  mind  to  kill  the  children  first.  When  his 
wife  came  home  in  the  morning  he  asked  her  why  she 
did  not  stay  home.  She  looked  up,  with  tears  stream- 
ing down  her  cheeks,  and  replied:  “Father,  I have  no 
home  any  more.”  This  touched  his  heart. 

When  one  of  his  children  lay  a corpse  he  borrowed 
money  to  bury  it,  and  stopped  at  a rum-shop  to  get  a 
drink,  and  stayed  until  the  money  was  all  gone ; and 
his  child  was  buried  by  charity. 

The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  heard 
of  this  man,  and  one  of  their  number  visited  his  house 
every  week  for  eighteen  months,  leaving  tracts  with  the 
family.  After  a while  he  looked  for  the  tracts  and  the 
visits.  Suitable  clothes  were  promised  him  if  he  would 
go  to  church.  He  was  deeply  convicted  of  sin,  and 
sought  the  Saviour,  whom  he  found  able  to  save,  even 
to  the  uttermost.  He  has  since  stood  firm  and  unwav- 
ering. For  six  months  he  was  chaplain  of  the  first 
Reform  Club  of  Newark,  which  office  he  filled  very 
acceptably.  He  has  been  called  to  several  places  in 
this  State  and  in  New  York,  to  tell  of  his  wonderful 
deliverance  from  the  appetite  and  curse  of  rum. 

September  8th,  1877,  buried  another  child;  but 
what  a contrast  in  the  man’s  family  and  home ! — the 


CRUSADE  AT  ROSEVILLE,  727 

home  now  pleasant  and  neatly  furnished,  the  family 
happy  even  in  their  sorrow,  and  the  body  of  the  little 
one  lying  in  a neat  coffin  with  a wreath  of  flowers 
marked  “baby the  man  loved  and  respected — a kind 
Christian  husband  and  father. 

Surely  gospel  temperance  pays  well,  even  in  this  life. 

We  might  speak  of  our  gospel  temperance  work  in 
the  jail;  how  the  prisoners  sought  and  found  the  Sa- 
viour, the  Lord  giving  us  a trophy  the  first  meeting: 
of  our  bands  of  hope  and  young  ladies’  league  ; cot- 
tage prayer-meetings,  saloon  visiting,  etc.  But  time 
will  not  permit,  and  the  half  we  do  not  know  here.  A 
true  record  of  it  is  kept  on  high.  It  is  a blessed  work. 
Unto  Him  be  all  the  praise  and  glory  forever. 

ROSEVILLE,  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  society  in  Roseville  is  an  outgrowth  of  the 
Woman’s  Crusade  work.  As  the  news  came  to  us  of 
the  Temperance  Crusade  in  the  West,  a woman  of 
the  Roseville  Church  heard  God  calling  her  to  join  this 
army.  Then  the  cry  went  up  to  Him,  “Lord,  what 
wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do  ? ” The  Lord  answered, 
“What  thy  hands  find  to  do,  do  with  all  thy  might.” 
The  next  Sunday,  by  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
temperance  tracts  were  distributed  among  my  Mission 
Sunday-school  class,  with  a prayer  to  heaven  that 
they  might  send  conviction  to  some  hearts  in  those 
seven  families  which  this  class  represented.  The  next 
week  these  homes  were  visited.  Upon  entering  one 
house,  the  mother  remarked,  “ I am  so  glad  you  have 
come,  for  my  husband  wants  to  see  you ; he  read  the 


728 


CRUSADE  AT  ROSEVILLE. 


tract  you  sent  on  Sunday,  and  has  been  very  thought- 
ful since  then  ; says  he  would  like  to  be  a better  man. 
Why,”  said  she,  “he  used  to  own  two  nice  houses,  and 
we  all  had  plenty ; but  now  we  are  living  in  these 
rented  rooms.  He  has  no  work,  and  I do  not  know 
what  is  to  become  of  us,  for  we  are  using  up  the  last 
of  our  hard  earninors.  He  will  q-q  with  holes  in  his 
shoes,  and  just  a7i_y  way,  and  spend  his  last  cent  for 
rum ; but  he  is  such  a good  man  when  he  is  sober.” 

Just  then  the  husband,  Mr.  Jones,  entered  the  room. 
He  was  a fine-looking  man,  but  the  mark  of  the  beast 
was  on  his  brow. 

The  conversation  then  commenced  about  his  pretty 
children,  and  my  desire  to  know  more  of  them  and 
their  parents ; he  smiled  sadly  as  he  remarked,  “ They 
have  a good  mother,  but  I am  not  the  father  I ought 
to  be.”  Then  we  talked  of  the  follies  of  a drunkard’s 
life,  all  of  which  he  knew  only  too  well ; but  how  to 
break  away  from  the  habit  that  had  chained  him  down 
with  a death-like  grip  was  the  problem  he  could  not 
solve. 

He  listened  with  joy  to  the  “good  news”  of  re- 
demption through  Jesus’  blood.  How  Jesus  came  to 
seek  and  save  the  lost;  then  he  told  me  of  a dear 
minister  brother  in  heaven:  how  his  last  prayer  on 
earth  was  for  him  (his  wayward  brother) ; then  of  a 
praying  mother  who  had  gone  home  to  glory ; then 
of  an  aged  praying  father  and  a gentle  loving  sister 
whose  constant  prayers  were  for  him.  “ Yes,”  he  said, 
“ I seem  to  be  wading  through  prayer,  knee-deep,  to 
hell.”  God  was  working  upon  his  heart.  There  was 


CRUSADE  AT  ROSEVILLE.  729 

a hushed  feeling  in  all  that  room.  We  felt  God’s 
presence  there,  and  when  the  invitation  was  given  to 
kneel  in  prayer,  there  seemed  to  be  a responsive  echo 
in  each  heart ; even  the  little  two-year-old  girl,  knelt 
in  a frightened  sort  of  way,  by  her  father’s  side,  and  as 
the  petition  went  up  before  the  Throne,  one  could 
imagine  the  angels  tuning  their  harps  a little  higher. 
Yes,  there  was  rejoicing  among  the  white-robed 
throng  over  one  poor  sinner,  who  had  turned  from  his 
evil  ways,  and  was  learning  the  new  song,  “To  Him 
who  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
blood.” 

We  then  walked  together  to  our  pastor’s  study,  and 
there  he  promised,  with  God’s  help,  never  to  touch  in- 
toxicating drinks,  but  to  serve  the  Lord  all  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Two  years  have  rolled  away  since 
that  memorable  3d  day  of  September,  and  he  is  one 
of  our  most  consistent  Christian  men,  a good  citizen, 
and  an  earnest  temperance  worker.  Many  poor,  rum- 
blinded  souls  have  been  brought  to  the  feet  of  Jesus 
through  his  faithful  efforts,  and  in  his  home  you  will 
find  peace  and  plenty. 

Mr.  Jones’  conversion  was  soon  noised  about. 
Women  told  their  neighbors  of  the  wonderful  chano-e 
that  had  come  over  him,  and  many  a sad-hearted  wife 
wished  that  somebody  would  talk  to  her  husband  ; 
and  somebody  did  carry  the  wonderful  news,  “That 
Jesus  is  mighty  to  save,”  until  ten  men  had  become 
converted. 

They  and  their  wives  were  banded  together  into 
what  is  now  called  the  “ Gospel  Total  Abstinence 


730 


CRUSADE  AT  ROSEVILLE. 


Society,”  Socials  were  held  at  their  homes  once  a week, 
until  they  became  so  large  we  were  forced  to  hold  the 
meetings  in  the  Mission  Chapel.  Two  years  have 
elapsed  since  this  society  was  organized  and  in  God’s 
hands.  It  is  founded  on  “The  Rock  of  Ages,”  and 
has  been  greatly  prospered.  We  now  number  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  members.  Fifty-four  have 
been  converted  to  Christ. 

Among  our  prominent  workers  are  three  ex-beer- 
saloon-keepers  ; also  one  who  was  confined  at  the  prison 
for  drunkenness,  while  we  were  holding  our  usual 
prayer-meeting  at  that  place.  He  was  a miserable, 
bloated  German,  who  came,  after  his  release,  to  the 
meetings,  as  he  lived  in  close  proximity  to  our  work. 

The  kind,  tender  words  of  the  women,  and  a tract 
called  the  “Bird-Charmer,”  set  him  to  thinking.  How 
he  entreated  us,  in  our  little  Friday  evening  meeting, 
to  pray  for  him ; and  we  surrounded  him  after  the 
meeting  and  never  gave  him  up  until  we  saw  him 
standinor  with  us  on  the  “Rock  of  Ag^es.” 

One  year  has  elapsed  since  his  conversion,  and  in- 
stead of  the  once  wretched  home,  he  is  living  in  quite 
a large  house,  all  neatly  furnished,  and  his  family  of 
eight  children  are  all  walking  in  the  narrow  way. 
Through  his  effort  two  men,  who  had  been  very  hard 
drinkers,  were  converted.  They  were  won  b)"  his  con- 
sistent life  at  the  work-bench.  Now  they  all  sing  to- 
gether all  day  long,  in  that  Catholic  hat  shop,  the 
Moody  and  Sankey  hymns.  These  three  men  are  con- 
sistent members  of  our  Roseville  church. 

Our  organization  is  situated  in  the  upper  part  of 


CRUSADE  AT  LAMBERTVILLE  AND  RAHWAY.  73 1 

Newark.  It  is  supported  entirely  by  the  Roseville 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  one  of  the  revolving 
wheels  in  the  church  machinery  for  saving  souls.  It 
has  filled  a great  many  otherwise  empty  pews. 

The  above  facts  are  reported  by  Mrs.  F.  T.  Wiggins. 

LAMBERTVILLE,  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  women  arose  en  masse  in  this  town,  and  with  a 
petition,  signed  by  a large  majority  of  the  citizens  of 
the  place,  went  to  the  council  chamber  and  urged 
that  the  saloons  be  at  once  closed.  The  demand 
was  so  well  backed  up  by  influential  names  on 
the  petition,  and  the  presence  of  prominent  citizens, 
that  it  was  acceded  to  at  once,  and  rum  was  banished. 

Many  of  the  young  men  reformed,  and  some  of 
them  were  saved  and  brought  into  the  church. 

But  the  dealers  who  had  been  driven  out  established 
themselves  on  the  Pennsylvania  side  of  the  river,  and 
as  there  was  a connecting  bridge,  the  point  was  acces- 
sible and  convenient,  and  they  went  on  with  their 
deadly  work.  The  people  of  the  little  village  pro- 
tested, and  held  mass  indignation  meetings ; but  the 
intruders,  lost  to  shame,  defied  public  sentiment. 

At  the  next  election  for  city  officers  there  was  a hard 
contest,  but  the  temperance  people  held  their  own,  and 
kept  rum  out.  They  still  watch  and  pray,  and  hold 
the  fort. 

RAHWAY,  NEW  JERSEY. 

A good  work  was  accomplished  in  Rahway.  Sixty- 
five  women  signed  the  “iron-clad  pledge,”  which  sol- 
emnly bound  them  not  to  use  alcohol  in  any  way,  not 


732 


CRUSADE  AT  JERSEY  CITY. 


even  as  a medicine,  and  not  to  patronize  any  hotel  or 
grocery  where  it  was  sold. 

The  result  of  this  action  was  that  some  of  the  gro- 
cers disposed  of  their  liquor  at  once,  and  invited  the 
patronage  of  temperance  people. 

Six  meetings  are  held  weekly,  the  ministers  attend- 
ing in  a body  the  Thursday  evening  meetings,  to  which 
they  have  been  specially  invited. 

In  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  at  Bloodgood  Mills,  a 
branch  Union  was  started,  and  a reading-room  estab- 
lished, with  good  results.  There  is  also  a temperance 
work  among  the  colored  people. 

Many  have,  through  the  labors  of  the  faithful  work- 
ers, thus  been  brouMit  to  Christ. 

The  Reform  Club  numbers  seventy-seven,  most  of 
whom  are  “ steadfast,  immovable,  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.” 

I glean  the  following  facts  from  the  annual  report: 

JERSEY  CITY,  NEW  JERSEY. 

Meetings  are  held  in  Jersey  City,  Bergen,  Hudson 
City,  and  Greenville,  all  within  the  city  limits. 

The  grocers  have  all  been  visited,  and  uro^ed  to  crive 
up  the  sale  of  liquors.  One  man,  who  is  a member 
of  church,  was  found,  who  sold  liquor  by  the  bottle,  in 
his  grocery.  When  remonstrated  with  he  insisted  that 
he  was  doing  right,  and  refused  to  give  up  that  part 
of  his  business.  One  grocer  gave  up  the  sale  of 
liquors,  and  the  ladies  now  have  a temperance  grocer}^, 
which  they  feel  in  honor  bound  to  sustain. 


CRUSADE  AT  MT.  HOLLY,  NEW  BRUNSWICK,  ETC.  733 

MOUNT  HOLLY,  NEW  JERSEY. 

Mass-meetings  are  held  every  Sabbath  afternoon, 
beside  evening  meetings  during  the  week. 

Appeals  have  been  made,  both  personally  and  in 
writing,  to  the  judges  of  the  court,  by  whom  licenses 
are  issued.  By  this  means  one  man  who  applied  for 
license  to  open  a beer  saloon  was  prevented. 

There  is  a growing  interest,  and  an  improved  public 
sentiment  in  this  place. 

NEW  BRUNSWICK,  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  work,  which  began  in  this  town  through  the  in- 
fluence of  one  woman,  lacks  neither  earnestness  nor 
perseverance. 

Meetings  are  held  regularly,  and  from  the  converts 
a Reform  Club  has  been  started. 

HACKETTSTOWN,  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  saloons  are  all  closed,  but  the  ladies  continue 
their  meetings,  and  are  vigilant  lest  the  enemy  should 
obtain  entrance. 

At  the  seminary  in  that  town,  ninety  young  ladies 
and  gentlemen  were  induced  to  sign  the  pledge. 

Trenton,  Elizabeth,  Burlington,  Beverly,  Washing- 
ton, Millstone,  Madison,  Cedarville,  Long  Branch  and 
a score  of  other  towns  are  holding  the  fort  against 
fearful  odds,  and  some  of  them  are  gaining  substantial 
victories. 

Mrs.  M.  C.  Noble,  who  has  travelled  much  over  the 
State,  and  has  with  Mrs.  M.  R.  Denman,  the  President 
of  the  State  Union,  been  abundant  in  labors,  adds  the 
following: 


734 


CRUSADE  AT  TRENTON. 


Early  in  the  fall  of  1876,  there  was  a vigorous 
campaign  opened  against  intemperance  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  prosecuted 
through  the  counties  of  Atlantic,  Salem,  Cumber- 
land and  Monmouth,  with  great  success,  arousing 
Christian  people  of  all  denominations  to  active  labor. 
God  blessed  the  labor  of  His  servants  most  wonder- 
fully, and  we  feel  confident  that  in  answer  to  fervent 
prayers  and  persistent  effort  to  rescue  the  perishing 
and  lift  up  the  fallen  this  great  awakening  over  our 
State  has  come.  To  God  be  all  the  glory. 

To  show  the  spirit  of  this  work  let  me  give  one  or 
two  instances.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  the  hearts  of 
Christians  so  stirred  up  to  work  in  all  ways,  and  by  all 
means,  “so  that  some  might  be  saved.”  One  after- 
noon there  came  into  Temperance  Hall  at  Trenton, 
during  the  great  revival  there  early  in  the  winter  of 
1877,  a poor  out-cast,  a woman,  who  in  consequence 
of  evil  ways  had  been  imprisoned,  but  who  now  was 
drawn  to  the  hall  by  some  unknown  influence.  She 
came  again  and  again,  and  finally  signed  the  pledge 
and  said  she  kept  it.  I can  never  forget  a scene  which 
occurred  at  the  close  of  one  of  our  meetings.  A pure- 
spirited  girl,  one  of  Trenton’s  fairest  daughters,  whose 
heart  was  full  of  the  constraining  love  of  Christ,  ap- 
proached this  woman  and  in  low  tones  began  to  talk 
with  her  in  regard  to  her  soul’s  salvation.  After  a 
few  moments  we  saw  the  two,  one  pure  as  the  blood 
of  Christ  alone  can  make,  and  the  other  covered  with 
sin  and  shame,  move  to  a remote  corner  of  the  room, 
and  bowing  together  so  their  faces  nearly  touched,  we 


CRUSADE  AT  TRENTON. 


735 


saw  the  one  earnestly  pleading  with  God  for  His 
pardon  for  this  poor  erring  sister.  Oh,  what  a sight ! 
Angels  must  have  stopped  in  their  flight  to  witness  a 
scene  like  this.  We  passed  noiselessly  away  and  left 
them  alone  with  God  and  the  angels. 

Another ; There  was  a man  who  had  been  a hard 
drinker  most  of  his  life,  and  was  bringing  his  aged 
mother  to  her  grave  in  sorrow.  All  efforts  to  save 
him  had  failed,  and  it  seemed  to  all  who  knew  him  that 
he  must  fill  a drunkard’s  grave.  A Christian  lady 
anxious  to  work  for  the  blessed  Master,  and  to  save 
this  man  if  possible,  thought  of  this  plan.  She  w^ould 
wTite  him  a letter  praying  that  God  would  touch  his 
heart.  She  did  so,  addressing  him  as  “ brother,”  and 
signing  herself  his  friend.  She  invited  him  to  the 
Temperance  Hall  that  night.  The  word  brother" 
arrested  his  attention.  He  said,  “ Is  it  possible  that 
there  is  one  who  cares  enough  for  me  to  call  me 
‘ brother,’  and  that  one,  a lady  ? I will  go  to  the  hall.” 
He  did  so,  signed  the  pledge  and  became  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance. 

Others  of  similar  character  were  brought  into  our 
meetings  and  w'ere  saved ; broken-down  family  altars 
were  rebuilt,  and  many  new  ones  set  up,  we  trust 
never  to  be  abandoned. 

It  was  blessed  to  bow  with  these  saved  men  at  their 
altars  of  prayer,  where  in  many  cases  children  had  fled 
from  their  drunken  fathers  in  terror.  Now  they  would 
sit  upon  their  knee  while  God’s  word  was  read,  and  all 
bow  together  in  humble  prayer. 

Through  the  influence  of  these  gospel  temperance 


736 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND, 


meetings  many  saloons  have  been  closed  ; cider  mills 
abandoned ; and  thousands  of  precious  souls  have 
been  saved,  thereby  turning  aside  the  streams  of 
death  which  bear  down  to  ruin  so  many  of  our  fellow- 
beings. 

God  very  signally  owned  and  blessed  the  work  at 
Elizabeth  City,  N.  J.,  and  though  not  so  many  signed 
the  pledge  as  in  other  places,  yet  the  work  was  carried 
into  the  churches,  and  pastors  and  people  united  in  the 
great  work  of  saving  souls,  and  all  felt  when  the  meet- 
ingr  closed  that  some  had  been  brought  to  the  saving 
knowledge  of  Christ. 

O 


MARYLAND. 

Years  ago,  when  a war-cry  rang  out  in  the  land, 
thousands  of  womanly  hearts  thrilled  responsive  to 
the  call  for  sympathy,  for  aid,  and  prayer.  And  when, 
not  long  after,  another  battle-cry  pealed  out  in  thunder- 
tones,  when  the  voice  of  the  Crusade,  as  die  voice  of 
many  waters,  came  surging  from  the  West,  our  hearts 
answered  to  the  call,  and  eveny’where  throughout  “ our 
Maryland,”  woman’s  lips  caught  up  the  battle-cr}', 
“ For  God,  and  home,  and  native  land  ! ” 

Fired  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the  noble  women  of 
Ohio,  touched  by  the  spirit  of  sacrifice  which  nerved 
them  to  deeds  of  heroism  unsurpassed  by  any  on  his- 
toric page,  we,  of  Maryland,  saw,  as  never  before,  our 
responsibility  as  Christians,  realized  that  “ we  were 
our  brothers’  keepers,”  and,  listening  to  the  Spirit’s 
call,  resolved  to  do  whatever  (God  blessing  our  efforts) 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND.  737 

we  might  towards  helping  “ the  bound  in  chains  ” to 
be  free ! 

Never  before  had  we  seemed  to  hear  as  in  our  very 
midst,  all  round  about  us,  the  wail  from  breaking 
hearts,  women  weeping  over  the  degradation  of  their 
first-born,  their  poor  misguided  Absaloms.  We  saw 
our  own  darlings  in  our  sheltered  homes,  shielded, 
loved,  and  blest,  and,  as  never  before,  felt  that  it  was 
required  of  us  to  seek  out  in  their  wretchedness  the 
drunkard’s  children — little  children  who  scarcely  knew 
what  childhood  Avas,  looking  out  upon  life  with  scared 
and  wondering  faces,  crouching  to  earth,  or  hiding 
away  at  footsteps  on  a stair — uncertain,  stumbling 
footsteps,  heralds  of  night  hours  of  vigil,  of  abuse 
and  desolation. 

Women  suffering  a living  death,  in  degradation, 
poverty  and  woe,  struggling,  toiling  far  into  the  night, 
to  earn  their  children  bread ; these  seemed  to  look  to 
us  with  pitiful,  tear-stained  faces,  for  help,  for  sym- 
pathy, for  prayer. 

Thus  moved  by  the  example  of  our  sisters  of  the 
West,  awakened  by  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we 
began  to  ask,  “What  is  onr  duty?  What  can  we  do? 
Shall  we  stand  idly  looking  on,  while  souls  die  that  we 
might  help  to  save  ? Shall  we  dream  away  our  lives, 
fold  our  arms  in  peace,  and  give  thanks  that  none  of 
our  beloved  ones  are  in  that  army  marching  down  to 
death?”  The  answer  came  back,  “No!  a thousand 
times  no,  no  I ” 

“What,  then,  should  we  do?  ” Wait  for  protection 

from  our  lawgivers,  help  that  might  never  come! 

47 


738 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND. 


Nay,  to  the  mighty  Lawgiver,  the  Judge  of  all  the 
earth,  we  resolved  to  carry  our  cause ; to  the  mighty 
in  battle  we  would  fly  for  deliverance ; taking  courage 
when  we  remembered  that  “ Greater  is  He  who  is  for 
us,  than  all  they  who  are  against  us.” 

Day  after  day  we  met  for  solemn  consecration,  for 
prayer,  seeking  wisdom  from  on  high,  that,  led  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  we  might  put  into  active  form  our  yearn- 
ing pity  for  the  victims  of  intemperance,  their  sorrow- 
ing families,  and  desolated  homes. 

In  the  spring  of  1874,  a band  of  Christian  women 
under  the  direction  of  hlrs.  Francis  A.  Crook,  and 
Mrs.  Dr.  J.  Carey  Thomas,  of  Baltimore,  associated 
themselves  to£rether  under  the  name  of  “ The  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union.” 

During  the  spring  and  winter,  prayer-meetings  were 
held  two  and  three  days  in  the  week  in  the  different 
churches  of  the  city;  for  in  this  work  Christian  women 
of  all  denominations  met  and  worked,  wept,  and 
prayed  together  “ one  in  Christ.” 

Cottaee  meetings  were  held  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
city,  in  private  houses,  and  even  in  houses  of  shame; 
dens  of  infamy  where  our  pure  women  went,  as  the  dis- 
ciples of  old,  two  and  two,  in  little  companies,  quietly, 
lovingly,  earnestly  bearing  the  Master’s  message  of 
salvation,  bindino-  the  “whosoevers  and  the  whatso- 
evers  ” into  a staff  to  bear  up  and  on  the  poor  sin- 
ning, sad,  despairing  souls,  that  heard  them  with  new 
hope.  God  wonderfully  blessed  these  efforts.  Souls 
were  reclaimed,  and  more  than  one  lifted  up  by 
Christian  women’s  loving  hands.  These,  their  fallen 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND.  739 

sisters,  were  led  to  Him  who  saveth  to  the  uttermost 
whosoever  will  come. 

Responding  to  a call  issued  by  the  President  of  the 
Baltimore  Union,  the  women  of  the  city  and  State 
met  in  convention,  November  9th  and  loth,  1875,  in 
this  city,  to  plan  for  the  future  extension  of  the  work. 

The  result  of  this  gathering  was  the  organization 
of  “The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,”  of 
Maryland,  auxiliar}^  to  “The  Woman’s  National  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union.” 

The  following  officers  were  elected,  and  at  each 
succeeding  annual  convention,  unanimously  re-elected: 

President,  Mrs.  Frances  A.  Crook,  Baltimore  ; Vice- 
Presidents,  Mrs.  Simon  Parkhurst,  Baltimore  county; 
Mrs.  Dr.  James  Carey  Thomas,  Baltimore,  Congres- 
sional District ; Mrs.  L.  H.  Cochren,  Frederick  county  ; 
Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Murdock,  Baltimore; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Georgia  Hulse  Mc- 
Leod, Baltimore ; Treasurer,  Mrs.  Alice  Brooks,  Bal- 
timore. 

Through  the  years  of  1875-76,  the  Union  has 
pressed  forward,  overcoming  many  obstacles,  but 
quietly  and  persistently  commanding  attention  and 
respect,  creating  a still  increasing  sentiment  in  favor 
of  temperance. 

We  can  chronicle  no  grand  victory,  rejoice  over  no 
signal  success,  but  we  are  glad  to  know  that  from 
meetings  held  week  after  week,  month  after  month, 
often  through  great  discouragement,  good  has  resulted. 
In  public  halls,  in  churches,  in  private  houses,  in  cities, 
towns,  and  villages,  seed  has  been  sown  which  God 


740 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND. 


has  blessed.  Some  souls  have  been  saved,  some 
fallen  ones  reclaimed,  a few  bars  and  rum  shops 
closed.  Into  every  open  door  of  opportunity  our 
sisters  have  gone  with  their  sweet  message  of  love. 
Amonor  the  seamen — the  old  weather-beaten  tars,  the 
young  just  starting  out  on  first  voyages — on  the  deck 
of  a man-of-war  they  have  sung,  and  talked,  and  prayed. 
The  memory  of  a meeting  thus  held,  one  Sabbath 
afternoon,  will,  by  some,  be  long  remembered.  The 
first  to  sign  the  pledge,  and  place  his  name  upon  the 
prayer-roll,  was  an  English  boy,  whose  heart  some 
spoken  word  of  mother-love  had  touched. 

That  was  his  last  Sabbath  upon  earth.  A fall  from 
the  yard-arm  resulted  in  almost  instant  death.  Held 
high  in  esteem  by  officers  and  mates,  he  was  buried 
with  naval  honors.  Tributes  of  respect,  fragrant 
flowers,  were  heaped  upon  his  coffin.  A record  of 
these  tokens  of  friendship  the  boy  had  won,  and  a lock 
of  soft  brown  hair  were  sent  to  his  mother  far  away, 
and  are  all  that  is  left  now  to  comfort  her. 

His  life  voyage  was  early  ended,  and  we  believe  his 
ship  is  safe  in  port,  where  the  storms  never  come. 

Temperance  literature,  papers,  tracts,  books,  and 
leaflets  were  frequently  distributed.  Articles  bearing 
on  the  interests  of  the  cause  were,  from  time  to  time, 
inserted  in  local  journals.  Letters  were  written  to 
those  who  could  be  reached  in  no  other  way. 

From  our  city  pulpits  each  year  were  read  appeals 
from  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
uro-ine  their  sisters  to  banish  from  Christmas  and 

o o 

New-Year’s  festivals,  and  social  gatherings,  wines  and 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND. 


741 


Other  intoxicating  drinks.  These  appeals  were  not 
altogether  vain.  Every  Christmas  tide  the  song  of 
the  Angel  of  Peace  sounds  louder  and  clearer. 
Christmas  is  a joy  to  some  homes,  where  its  gladness 
had  been  long  unknown,  and  fewer  hearts  are  sad- 
dened by  long,  weary  watches,  at  that  joyous  time,  for 
reeling  forms,  tottering  steps,  blaspheming  tones. 

Auxiliary  Unions  have  been  formed  in  Baltimore 
and  Howard  counties.  In  a village  in  the  last-named 
county,  by  the  earnest,  persevering  efforts  of  one  true 
Christian  woman,  the  sale  of  liquor  has  been  aban- 
doned by  the  shopkeepers,  to  whom  it  had  always 
been  a profitable  investment. 

In  Glencoe,  Baltimore  county,  a juvenile  auxiliary 
has  been  formed,  which  promises  to  be  a valuable 
acquisition. 

Pledges  have  been  taken  to  some  extent,  but  in  this 
form  of  our  work  we  meet  with  much  opposition. 

Several  hundred  sis^natures  have  been  obtained  to 
petitions  ready  for  the  approaching  session  of  our 
State  Lemslature. 

o 

Delegates  were  appointed  to  the  National  and 
International  Conventions.  The  latter  was  attended 
by  the  President,  Vice-President,  and  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  State,  and  by  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Baltimore  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

A public  meeting,  with  appropriate  farewell  ser- 
vices, was  held  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Parker, 
President  of  the  Woman’s  International  Temperance 
Union,  and  addressed  by  her  on  the  eve  of  her  depar- 
ture for  Scotland. 


742 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND. 


In  April  and  May  daily  meetings  for  reformed  men 
were  presided  over  by  members  of  the  Baltimore 
Union  during  the  Temperance  Revival  Meetings, 
under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Hoy,  and  some  of  the 
men  then  rescued  from  ruin  have  been  encouragred 
and  assisted  in  their  every  effort  towards  a mainte- 
nance for  themselves  and  families,  to  whom  they  had 
been  almost  lost. 

This  is  Maryland’s  brief  record,  far  more  brief  than 
we  could  wish,  but  “We  have  done  what  we  could.” 
Still  hoping,  praying,  working,  watching  for  the 
brighter  day  we  know  must  come,  when  four  thousand 
liquor  saloons  shall  no  longer  be  a blot  on  the  beauty 
of  our  city,  when  not  one  shall  be  found  in  our  State 
from  its  eastern  to  its  western  shores,  and  when  we 
shall  rejoice  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise:  “The 
way  of  the  wicked  He  turneth  upside  down.” 

We  have  still  much  to  regret,  much  which  grieves 
and  saddens  us,  but  we  have  much  for  which  to  give 
thanks. 

We  are  still  an  undivided  band.  The  Ano-el  of 

o 

Death  has  spared  our  ranks ; the  Angel  of  the  Cove- 
nant has  led,  blessed,  and  strengthened  us.  We  re- 
consecrate ourselves  to  the  work,  looking  forward, 
not  backward  ; up,  not  down. 

Only  the  smallest  of  the  polished  stones  have  we  to 
bring,  far  outshone  by  sister  States,  yet  may  we  find  in 
the  glad  by-and-by,  that  in  the  hand  of  the  great 
Master-Builder,  we  have  found  a place,  and  aided  in 
the  completion  of  the  whole,  the  perfect  mosaic  formed 
of  millions  of  gems,  trophies  won  for  the  Master  by 
those  who  love  His  name,  and  watch  for  His  salvation. 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND, 


743 


THE  TRYST  OF  MARYLAND. 

IN  THE  TWILIGHT. 

At  the  hour  when  God’s  Beloved 
Sought  the  lonely  mountain  side, 
Breathing  out  His  supplications 
In  the  calm,  still  eventide, 

Let  us  bow  in  every  home. 

Praying,  in  faith,  “ Thy  kingdom  come  ! ” 

Thus  spake  one  who  loved  the  Saviour, 
Weeping  over  sin  and  woe  ; 

Hearts  and  lips  a hundred  answered, 
“Thou  say’st  well,  it  shall  be  so.” 

To  Him  who  hears,  we’ll  always  say 
That  prayer  at  dying  of  the  day. 

So,  each  twilight,  they  are  praying, 
Matron,  maiden,  wife,  and  child ; 
Father,  in  great  mercy,  hear  us. 

Stay  this  torrent  fierce  and  wild ; 

Like  a flood  ’twill  overwhelm. 

If  Thou  dost  not  take  the  helm. 

Stay  the  torrent  in  Thine  clasping 
Hands,  that  seek  the  cup  to  drain  ; 

Show  them  Death  is  in  it  lurking, 

Bring  them  to  the  light  again — 

Bring  the  wanderers  home  once  more. 

The  Lord  our  Shepherd,  we  implore ! 

Stay  the  torrent,  whisper  now 
To  each  ruler  in  the  land, 

Man,  where  is  thy  brother  ?— where  ? 

God  will  ask  him  at  thy  hand  ! 

Rouse  each  conscience  ! oh,  awake 
Souls  that  sleep,  their  peace  to  make ! 

Send  a voice  unto  the  dreamers. 

Sleeping  upon  beds  of  down, 

Bought  with  tears  of  wives  and  mothers — 
With  the  price  of  many  a home; 


744 


CRUSADE  IN  MARYLAND. 


Loud  be  it  as  a trampet’s  tone. 

Prepare  to  meet  thy  Judge — alone  ! 

Let  Thy  kingdom  come,  our  Father; 

Save  the  souls  so  far  from  Thee ; 

Cleanse  the  earth  from  this  pollution  ; 

Set  the  bound-in  spirit  free. 

Thy  kingdom  come  ! Thy  kingdom  come ! 

Hear  our  prayer  in  heaven  Thy  home. 

Courage  ! ye  wives,  who  toil  and  keep 
Watch  with  night,  so  sad  and  lone. 

Courage  ! ’tis  very  dark  and  drear ; 

But  with  morning,  light  shall  come. 

Kind  hearts  grieve  with  you  to-day, 

And  for  you  God’s  children  pray. 

hlothers,  they  who  were  your  pride 
Almost  break  your  hearts  to-night. 

They  have  wandered  far  from  home. 

Far  from  you,  from  God,  from  right. 

But  comfort  you ; God  sees  and  hears ; 

His  hand  shall  wipe  away  your  tears. 

Little  children,  sad  and  weary. 

Knowing  less  of  joy  than  tears. 

Do  you  think,  amid  the  shadows. 

No  one  heeds  your  griefs  and  fears  ? 

God  your  Father,  little  ones. 

Loves  you,  and  His  kingdom  comes  ! 

Christians,  pray  for  rescue,  pleading 
As  if  hours  were  moments  left — 

Pray  as  you  would  pray  in  dying. 

That  from  earth  this  curse  be  swept. 

Pray  in  the  twilight — yea,  alway — 

Lips,  heart,  and  soul,  oh,  Christians,  pray! 

Reported  by  Mrs.  Georgia  Hulse  McLeod,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary, 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  MILFORD. 


745 


CONNECTICUT. 


NEW  MILFORD,  CONNECTICUT. 

I gather  the  following  facts  from  reports  and  letters 
sent  me  by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Stone,  the  efficient  President 
of  this  local  organization,  and  of  the  State  organiza- 
tion, and  Vice-President  of  the  Woman’s  National 
Christian  Temperance  Union: 

The  ladies  of  this  place,  hearing  rumors  of  the 
strange  work  in  the  West,  began  to  question  in  their 
minds  whether  something  ought  not  to  be  done  here. 

We  had  men  here  who  were  selling  without  license, 
keeping  their  houses  open  on  the  Sabbath,  and  selling 
to  minors,  contrary  to  the  law  regulating  liquor  traffic. 
Finally,  two  of  the  ladies,  after  consulting  the  leading 
men  of  the  place,  decided  to  call  a meeting. 

The  meeting  was  held  in  the  Congregational  chapel, 
March  17th,  1874.  Other  meetings  followed,  and  a 
petition  was  prepared  and  circulated  for  signatures, 
requesting  the  liquor-dealers  to  give  up  their  business. 
Over  a thousand  signatures  were  obtained.  A com- 
mittee of  ladies  presented  the  petition  to  every  saloon- 
keeper, urging  them  to  give  up  their  vile  traffic ; but 
in  vain.  The  petition  and  signatures  were  published, 
and  the  ministers  of  the  town  invited  to  preach  ser- 
mons on  the  subject,  the  following  Sabbath,  which  some 
of  them  did. 

The  subject  was  agitated  so  thoroughly  that  the 
liquor-dealers,  knowing  they  were  defying  the  law, 
called  a town-meeting,  and  asked  the  town  to  give 
them  license.  The  ladies  held  a prayer-meeting,  in 


746 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  MILFORD. 


a chapel  close  by  the  place  Avhere  they  were  voting, 
and  with  prayers  and  tears  besought  God  not  to  per- 
mit them  to  have  license.  None  who  were  there  can 
ever  forget  that  meeting.  While  they  were  still  pray- 
ing and  crying  to  God,  a kind  brother  came,  and,  open- 
ing the  door  gently,  said,  “We  have  a majority  of  sixty- 
nine  votes  against  license,”  and  closing  the  door  left 
us  to  ourselves.  A thrill  of  joy  ran  through  every 
heart.  It  would  be  quite  impossible  to  describe  the 
scene — some  cried  for  joy,  some  thanked  God  for  an- 
swered prayer,  and  all  realized,  as  never  before,  that 
God  was  on  their  side.  The  ladies  continued  their 
meeting  with  great  enthusiasm. 

The  liquor-dealers  stopped  selling  for  a time,  and 
then  called  another  town-meeting;  and  the  ladies  called 
another  special  meeting  at  the  same  time  and  place  as 
before.  Their  meetinor  resulted  in  no  license  ao-ain — 

o o 

the  ladies  meeting  in  joy  and  thanksgiving  to  God, 
who  had  again  given  them  the  victory. 

Some  time  elapsed  before  the  liquor-dealers  rallied 
for  another  conflict.  This  time  they  applied  to  the 
County  Commissioners  for  license.  The  ladies  sent  a 
committee  to  the  County  Commissioners,  to  protest 
against  it,  on  the  ground  that  they  were  not  fit  persons 
to  be  intrusted  with  license,  as  they  had,  for  more  than 
a year,  been  selling  contrary  to  law.  Petitions  from 
citizens  were  also  sent  in,  and  the  liquor-dealers  were 
asfain  defeated. 

For  some  time  they  kept  quiet;  but  as  they  con- 
tinued to  sell,  the  men  decided  to  prosecute  them,  and 
in  due  time  they  w^ere  all  convicted  but  one,  who 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  MILFORD. 


747 


claimed  that  he  had  not  violated  his  promise  to  the 
ladies,  and  had  only  sold  for  medicine  (he  kept  a drug 
store).  The  suit  against  him  was  withdrawn,  the  rest 
paid  their  fines.  Finding  themselves  thwarted  on 
every  side,  they  appealed  to  the  Legislature,  and  by 
the  cunning  devices  of  scheming  politicians  secured 
the  Local  Option  law,  which  was  made  so  strong  in  their 
favor  that  the  County  Commissioners  had  no  longer 
power  to  use  their  own  discretion  in  granting  license 
to  those  who  might  apply,  when  the  petitioner  had 
complied  with  the  terms  provided  by  law.  At  the  next 
election  the  town  voted  license.  But  the  women  con- 
tinued to  work,  and  in  1876  the  town  again  voted  no 
license. 

A young  people’s  meeting  was  organized : D.  W. 
Ives,  President ; A.  S.  Beecher,  Secretary.  The  society 
increased  in  numbers  rapidly,  and  there  are  now  more 
than  two  hundred  members.  A Colored  People’s 
Temperance  Union  was  formed,  which  soon  numbered 
over  eighty  members ; and,  last  and  best,  a Temper- 
ance Band  of  Hope,  with  sixty-two  members,  twenty- 
four  of  whom  have  signed  the  triple  pledge,  to  use 
no  tobacco,  no  intoxicating  drinks,  and  no  profane 
language.  A citizens’  club  sprung  up  spontaneously, 
as  it  were,  without  any  action  on  the  part  of  the  ladies, 
and  many  who  were  considered  almost  past  reforma- 
tion joined  it.  They  were  assisted  by  the  citizens  in 
procuring  a reading-room.  Books,  papers  and  pictures 
were  furnished,  and  ^150,  to  aid  in  the  work. 

In  1877,  the  town  voted  license  again;  but  public 
sentiment  is  improving.  All  the  societies  are  in  active 


748 


CRUSADE  AT  EASTFORD. 


operation,  and  they  are  looking-  forward  to  the  time 
when  God  shall  give  the  victory. 

EASTFORD,  CONNECTICUT. 

In  the  autumn  of  1873,  a mother  was  walking  with 
her  four  children  along  one  of  the  pleasant  roads  of 
Eastford.  Much  engaged  and  interested  in  their  con- 
versation,  she  failed  to  notice  an  object  by  the  road- 
side, of  which  she  would  have  gladly  spared  them  the 
sight.  Suddenly  the  boy  clutched  her  dress  with  one 
hand,  and  pointing  with  the  other  to  the  prostrate 
figure,  exclaimed,  “Oh,  mother,  is  he  dead?”  Look- 
ing in  the  direction  he  pointed,  she  saw  a man,  well 
dressed,  about  thirty  years  of  age,  lying  flat  upon  the 
ground  in  the  uneasy  sleep  of  intoxication.  His  hat 
had  fallen  from  his  head,  and  the  hot  sun  beat  merci- 
lessly upon  his  dusty  face.  “ The  man  is  not  dead, 
but  drunk,”  she  said,  in  answer  to  his  question.  The 
boy  drew  nearer  to  his  mother,  and  in  a low  voice 
said,  “But  he  will  die,  won’t  he?”  “Yes,  some  time; 
and  after  death  is  the  judgment,”  she  added. 

They  wended  their  way  homeward.  The  beauty  of 
the  scene  was  destroyed  by  the  sight  they  had  wit- 
nessed. A new  feeling  of  responsibility  was  awakened 
by  that  afternoon  walk.  What  could  be  done  to  pro- 
tect the  young,  and  rescue  the  old,  from  the  ravages 
of  intemperance  ? was  the  question  constantly  recur- 
ring to  her  mind. 

Durino-  the  following  winter,  the  idea  of  a Woman’s 
Temperance  Union  came  to  her  mind;  and  feeling 
sure  of  the  beneficial  results  of  such  an  organization, 


CRUSADE  AT  EASTFORD. 


749 


she  did  not  rest  until  one  was  formed,  in  May,  1874. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  in  a private  parlor.  About 
forty  ladies  were  present ; and  after  a season  of  earnest 
prayer,  they  banded  themselves  together,  under  the 
name  of  the  “Woman’s  Temperance  Union  of  East- 
ford.” 

The  usual  officers  were  chosen,  and  a committee 
appointed  to  canvass  the  town,  and  particularly  to 
visit  every  woman,  and  get  her  co-operation  and  her 
name  signed  to  the  pledge.  This  committee  performed 
their  work  faithfully ; and  at  a meeting  held  in  the 
vestry,  June  17th,  made  their  report,  that  none  were 
left  un visited;  they  had  met  a cordial  welcome  at 
nearly  every  house,  and  had  obtained  one  Jmndred  and 
eighty-two  names.  It  was  voted  to  continue  to  circu- 
late this  pledge ; also  to  organize  a Band  of  Hope. 
This  was  done  July  17th. 

A public  meeting  was  held  in  the  Congregational 
Church,  August  3d,  which  was  crowded.  The  exer- 
cises were  conducted  entirely  by  women  and  children, 
and  consisted  of  original  addresses  by  the  ladies,  and 
singing  and  recitations  by  the  “ Band  of  Hope.”  After 
the  exercises  were  concluded,  a pledge  was  presented 
to  the  gentlemen  for  their  signatures,  and  received  a 
majority  of  the  names  of  those  present. 

Temperance  tracts  and  almanacs  were  bought  and 
distributed  in  the  families ; subscriptions  were  made 
to  various  temperance  papers,  both  for  children  and 
adults ; every  means  was  taken  to  interest  the  public 
in  temperance. 

It  was  thought  best  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  men 


750 


CRUSADE  AT  PLAINVILLE. 


upon  the  importance  of  voting  no  license.  This  was 
done  at  a public  meeting,  held  October  4th.  At 
this  meeting  it  was  manifest  that  there  had  been  a 
great  change  in  public  feeling  upon  the  temperance 
question.  The  landlord  of  the  village  hotel  had  been 
visited,  but  he  was  protected  by  both  town  and  govern- 
ment license,  and  for  a time  he  remained  unmoved. 
But  temperance  sentiment  increased,  and  he  was 
forced  out,  and  the  hotel  became  a temperance  house. 

At  the  next  election,  the  town  again  voted  license, 
and  the  hotel  passed  into  the  possession  of  a rumseller. 
But  it  is  no  longer  respectable  in  Eastford  to  sell  rum, 
and,  after  the  lapse  of  three  years,  there  has  been  but 
two  or  three  violations  of  the  pledge. 

The  same  officers  still  continue  in  the  Union.  The 
prayer-meeting  is  held  monthly,  and  we  are  waiting 
God’s  time,  feeling  sure  that  the  day  will  come  when 
rmht  shall  be  miorht  in  the  strencrth  of  the  Lord. 

00  o 

PLAINVILLE,  CONNECTICUT. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  G.  A.  Moody  for  the  following 
facts : 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1874,  after  the  ever- 
memorable  Crusade  of  our  Western  sisters,  the  INIaster 
seemed  to  be  calling  upon  the  Christian  women  of  our 
State,  saying,  “Go,  work  in  my  vineyar(j.” 

Meetings  for  prayer  sprang  up  in  various  sections, 
almost  simultaneous!}'. 

In  Plainville,  a small  town  of  only  fifteen  hundred 
inhabitants,  the  minds  of  some  of  the  sisters  were 
thoroughly  exercised  in  this  matter.  Some  eighteen 


CRUSADE  AT  PLAINVILLE. 


751 


or  twenty  earnest  Christian  women  held  a meeting, 
and  much  interest  was  manifested. 

Meetings  were  continued  for  several  weeks,  without 
any  organization  or  much  new  effort.  Earnest  prayer 
was  constantly  offered : “Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  us 
to  do?” 

Immediately  after  the  formation  of  our  State  Union, 
in  March  of  1875,  we  organized  at  Plainville  as  a 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  auxiliary  to 
the  State  and  National  Unions. 

About  this  time  our  first  work  was  given  us. 

The  husband  of  one  of  our  dear  sisters  owned  a 
hotel,  and  rented  it.  This  house  seemed  given  to  us 
to  pray  and  labor  for,  that  it  might  be  redeemed  from 
the  curse  of  liquor-selling,  and  made  pure. 

It  was  built  for  a liquor-saloon  or  hotel,  and  for 
thirty  years  or  more  a constant  stream  of  death  and 
destruction  had  issued  therefrom. 

It  seemed  much  to  expect,  but  we  knew  that  with 
our  God  all  things  were  possible,  and  only  being  in- 
struments in  His  hand  victory  was  sure. 

^ We  had  felt  at  first  that  we  could  never  visit  saloons, 
as  our  dear  sisters  in  New  York  and  the  West  had 
done,  but  we  were  led  into  this  saloon  almost  uncon- 
sciously. We  conversed  earnestly  with  the  proprietor 
and  his  wife;  with  the  young  men  we  found  there; 
labored  with  the  owner,  and  looked  to  our  great  Cap- 
tain for  success.  It  was  but  a little  while  that  we  were 
called  to  wait:  gloriously  did  the  way  open. 

One  of  our  Christian  men,  in  a good  business, 
bought  out  the  hotel,  and  having  completely  renovated 


752 


CRUSADE  AT  PLAINVILLE. 


it  from  cellar  to  attic,  opened  a temperance  hotel  and 
boarding-house,  which  is  constantly  a source  of  com- 
fort and  pride  to  our  town. 

The  first  Sabbath  after  the  house  was  thus  opened  a 
meeting  for  praise  and  thanksgiving  was  held  in  it,  by 
the  Women’s  Christian  Temperance  Union;  and  when 
we  saw  the  place  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  bar 
used  as  a platform — saw  some  three  or  four  young  m'en 
who  had  drank  at  that  bar  enroll  their  names,  and  heard 
the  songs  of  praise,  the  prayers  and  testimonies  for 
Christ  in  those  rooms  where  the  bacchanalian  sono;  had 
so  long  resounded,  we  could  only  say,  ‘‘Behold  what 
God  hath  wrought.” 

In  giving  in  his  testimony  at  that  time,  the  new  pro- 
prietor said  he  felt  something  almost  like  a hand  upon 
his  shoulder,  touching  him,  and  a voice  telling  him  to 
buy  the  building. 

We  had  none  of  us  said  anything  to  him  about  it, 
and  did  not  know  that  he  had  any  thought  of  such  a 
thingf,  until  we  heard  that  he  was  barQ;aininor  for  the 

C>'  o o 

property. 

Since  that  we  have  many  times  visited  saloons,  some- 
times to  converse  with  the  proprietors,  sometimes  to 
help  a wife  to  rescue  her  dear  husband. 

God  has  also  given  us  souls  rescued  from  the  power 
of  rum — washed  and  made  clean  in  Jesus’  blood.  And 
just  as  I write,  our  hearts  are  rejoicing  over  a new 
work:  the  formation  of  a Temperance  Corps  (or  Re- 
' form  Club),  by  Mr.  Warren. 

It  was  one  of  the  most  earnest  temperance  meetings 
ever  held  in  our  town.  Many  who  were  never  before 


CRUSADE  AT  PLAINVILLE, 


753 


pledged  came  forward — some,  hard-drinking  men. 
Seven  such  Unions  have  been  formed  in  Hartford 
county. 

In  Bristol  the  dear  sisters  visited  the  saloons  and 
conversed  with  the  keepers.  One  of  them  was  soon 
taken  sick.  He  spoke  of  their  visit,  on  his  sick-bed, 
and  said  he  should  never  keep  a saloon  again ; but  he 
was  not  spared  to  test  his  good  resolution.  They  con- 
tinue to  visit  saloons,  as  they  feel  they  are  led. 

In  Southington  the  women  have  held  two  prayer- 
meetinors  in  one  of  their  saloons. 

o 

I was  privileged  to  be  present  at  one  of  these  meet- 
inofs.  Soon  after  it  commenced  the  men  came  in  from 
other  saloons,  until  fifty  or  sixty  men  and  boys  were 
standino-  listeninor  with  earnest  attention  to  the  words  of 

o o 

Scripture,  songs,  and  prayers.  Exhortations  and  per- 
sonal appeals  followed.  The  tears  trickled  from  many 
eyes,  and  we  expect  results  from  that  meeting. 

And  so  the  work  goes  on.  It  has  been  said  by  some 
that  the  Crusade  was  over,  but  in  “the  land  of  steady 
habits”  we  feel  it  has  but  just  begun. 

We,  perhaps,  move  rather  slowly,  but  now  that  we 
are  started  we  intend  to  hold  on  in  this  work  till  every 
rum-shop  is  closed,  every  drunkard  saved,  and  all  our 
children  are  safe  in  the  fold.  In  Plainville  we  have  a 
Children’s  Temperance  Union,  numbering  seventy 
members.  We  have  also  presented  a neat  little 
pledge  to  each  teacher  in  our  Sabbath-school ; these 
are  triple  pledges,  including  tobacco  and  profanity,  as 
well  as  intoxicating  drinks.  For  we  feel,  that  while  we 
labor  to  reform  men,  it  is  very  necessary  that  we  keep 

48 


754 


CRUSADE  AT  NEW  HAVEN. 


our  children  from  forming  these  dreadful  habits.  And 
so  we  labor  on  as  the  dear  Lord  leads,  one  hand  lifted 
to  the  throne,  the  other  linked  in  with  the  thousands 
of  Christian  sisters,  forming  a band  that  encircles  the 
world. 

And  we  shall  never  cease,  while  life  shall  last,  to 
labor  for  Christ  and  humanity. 

NEW  HAVEN,  CONNECTICUT. 

A meeting  was  called,  July,  1874,  by  Mrs.  Rebecca 
A.  Morrill.  Only  four  ladies  responded  to  that  call. 
Other  meetinofs  were  held  in  the  Centre  Conorrecrational 
Church,  and  in  the  First  M.  E.  Church.  Of  one  of 
these  meetings  a lady  says  : “As  I stepped  into  the 
church,  eight  were  bowed  in  prayer  in  a room  where  a 
thousand  people  could  have  been  seated.  Only  eight 
souls  responded  to  the  call  for  prayer  for  the  success 
of  the  temperance  cause,  and  I said,  ‘ Here  am  I,  Lord  : 
send  me.’  ” But  the  meetings  continued,  and  the  work 
went  on,  and  these  women  baptized  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  went  out  into  the  lanes  and  alleys  of  the  city, 
into  the  homes  of  the  drunken  and  the  sinful,  to  tell 
the  old,  old  story  of  Jesus  and  his  love. 

After  some  months  spent  in  labor,  a society  was 
organized,  and  saloon  visiting  undertaken.  While 
some  of  the  women  remained  in  the  rooms  to  pray, 
others  would  go  out  into  the  saloons  to  invite  men  to 
the  prayer-room.  Each  Saturday  evening  especially, 
this  work  was  pressed  with  zeal.  They  were  generally 
treated  with  respect,  but  sometimes  forbidden  to  sing, 
and  asked  not  to  remain  long.  In  other  places  singing 


CRUSADE  AT  STAFFORD. 


755 


and  prayer  were  allowed,  and  men  stood  with  uncov- 
ered heads,  and  a profound  stillness  was  observed 
during  the  religious  exercise. 

Most  of  the  dealers  admitted  that  they  were  doing 
wrong,  and  the  drinkers  that  they  were  on  the  down- 
ward course,  especially  if  they  have  become  confirmed 
drunkards.  There  is,  however,  a large  class  of  young 
men  who  see  no  danger.  Sometimes  they  found  fifty 
or  sixty  men  in  the  saloons  under  thirty  years  of  age. 
Many  followed  these  women  from  the  saloon  to  the 
prayer-room,  and  were  saved  by  the  power  of  grace, 
and  are  now  in  the  church  of  Christ. 

At  Fair  Haven,  a beautiful  suburban  village,  a won- 
derful work  of  grace  was  wrought.  Very  many  too 
poor  to  ride  in  the  street  cars  would  walk  two  or  three 
miles  in  the  cold  December  and  January  evenings  to 
be  present  at  the  place  of  prayer.  Scores  of  these 
were  converted,  and  a Union  was  formed  at  Fair 
Haven. 

A glorious  work  was  commenced  among  the  chil- 
dren, and  hundreds  of  children  and  youth  were  enrolled 
on  their  pledge-books.  Neighborhood  meetings  were 
held,  hundreds  of  families  visited,  and  the  interest  of 
the  people  kept  up  by  frequent  mass-meetings.  The 
membership  now  numbers  about  ninety. 

STAFFORD,  CONNECTICUT. 

An  earnest,  persistent  temperance  work  has  been 
carried  on  in  this  town ; Revs.  J.  H.  James  and  N.  D. 
Parsons  taking  the  lead  in  the  out-door  work.  Prior 
to  the  election  of  1875,  women  circulated  the  following 


756 


CRUSADE  AT  BRIDGEPORT. 


appeal  to  voters  : “We,  your  sisters,  wives  and  mothers, 
earnestly  pray  you,  our  brothers,  husbands  and  sons, 
and  legal  protectors,  to  defend  our  hearts  and  homes 
from  the  desolation  of  rum,  by  voting  no  license!'  This 
petition  was  widely  circulated  in  the  village,  and  only 
three  women  out  of  333  refused  to  sign  it.  The 
majority  for  license  the  year  before  had  been  100,  but 
the  effect  of  this  petition  and  their  influence  was  to 
secure  a no-license  majority  of  124. 

During  the  month  of  August,  1875,  while  an  out- 
door public  mass-meeting  was  being  held,  a party  of 
rouehs  and  drunkards,  who  had  been  attending  a horse- 
race  near  a bush  tavern,  came  to  the  meeting  place 
and  stoned  the  speakers.  Revs.  J.  H.  James  and  N.  D. 
Parsons.  But  they  went  forward  with  the  work,  for  the 
people  of  Stafford  were  aroused  that  such  an  indignity 
and  outrage  should  be  perpetrated  in  their  midst. 

One  dealer  in  Stafford  was  a man  of  a great  deal  of 
influence.  He  persisted  in  following  the  business,  not- 
withstandingf  the  vote,  and  he  had  such  influence  over 
his  customers,  and  used  his  money  so  freely,  that  it  was 
difficult  to  get  evidence  ; but  the  women  prayed,  and 
the  men  labored,  and  in  due  time  he  was  in  the  clutches 
of  the  law,  and  the  State  fine  was  ^300,  and  the  United 
States  fine  $700,  which  ruined  him  financially  and 
socially. 

BRIDGEPORT,  CONNECTICUT. 

A Woman’s  Temperance  Union  was  organized  Feb- 
ruary 26th,  1875,  only  a few  taking  an  interest;  the 
society  beginning  with  fifteen  members ; but  the  few 
continued  in  prayer  and  work  till  the  fall  of  1876, 


CRUSADE  AT  BRIDGEPORT. 


757 


when  they  secured  the  services  of  Dr.  Reynolds. 
During  his  stay  a Reform  Club  of  forty  members  was 
organized.  A room  was  opened  for  the  Reform  Club, 
in  which  the  ladies  also  held  their  meetings.  In  connec- 
tion with  this  a reading-room  was  opened,  and  a Sabbath 
school  organized  for  the  reformed  men  and  their  chil- 

o 

dren.  Saturday  evening  prayer-meetings  and  Sab- 
bath afternoon  meetings  have  been  held  regularly  and 
largely  attended.  Many  of  the  men  have  been  brought 
to  feel  their  need  of  a higher  power  to  help  them  resist 
temptations.  The  ladies  have  visited  the  saloons  to 
some  extent ; some  are  visited  every  week.  One  man 
so  visited  gave  up  the  business,  and  sent  in  a request 
for  prayer.  Men  are  brought  from  the  saloons  to  the 
meeting;  one  man  who  had  in  this  way  been  induced 
to  attend  the  prayer-meetings  afterwards  got  drunk, 
and  was  sent  to  jail,  where  he  had  time  to  think  on  the 
kind  words  of  instruction  given,  a*nd  to  give  his  heart  to 
Christ.  When  released  from  jail,  he  went  to  the  rooms, 
signed  the  pledge,  and  gave  testimony  of  the  power 
of  God  to  save  to  the  uttermost.  He  says  that  before 
his  conversion,  he  had  taken  an  oath  on  the  Bible  to 
stop  drinking,  and  yet  such  was  the  power  of  appetite 
over  him,  that  he  would  be  drunk  before  night,  but 
now  the  appetite  has  been  taken  away  from  him,  and 
he  hates  the  smell  of  drink.  One  man,  sixty  years  old, 
who  had  been  a saloon-keeper,  and  for  many  years  a 
drunkard,  was  strangely  drawn  to  their  rooms,  and  was 
led  to  give  up  drink  and  tobacco  in  every  form,  and  to 
consecrate  himself  to  Christ.  And  still  the  good  work 
goes  on,  and  the  interest  is  increasing. 


758 


CRUSADE  AT  HARTFORD. 


HARTFORD,  CONNECTICUT. 

During-  the  winter  of  1875—76,  a few  of  the  Chris' 
tian  women  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  feeling  dis- 
tressed in  regard  to  the  extent  of  the  use  of  intoxicat- 
ing liquors  in  their  city,  felt  it  their  imperative  duty  as 
followers  of  Him  who  came  to  rescue  man  from 
degradation  and  sin,  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  this  terrible  evil. 

Accordingly,  an  association  was  formed  in  January, 
1876. 

In  the  summer  two  places  were  opened  by  the 
Union  for  the  free  gift  of  cold  water  to  the  passer-by. 
So  that  the  old  excuse  of  men  for  drinking  beer,  or 
something  stronger,  because  they  could  not  find  a 
place  where  they  could  get  a good  drink  of  ice-water 
in  the  city,  might  be  removed.  • 

In  one  of  these  rooms  a young  woman  was  em- 
ployed, for  a small  compensation,  to  dispense  the 
water,  and  temperance  papers  and  tracts  were  also 
given  to  all  who  would  receive  them. 

As  the  summer  passed  away  and  the  colder  days 
came,  coffee  was  substituted  for  ice-water,  and  the 
small  sum  of  five  cents -was  charged  for  a cup  of 
coffee  with  a roll ; the  ladies  feeling  that  even  the 
poor  would  have  more  self-respect  if  they  paid  for 
what  they  received.  This  little  room  was  so  well 
patronized,  that  the  ladies  were  urged  to  add  to  their 
bill  of  fare,  so  that  a cheap  dinner  might  be  furnished 
to  people  of  small  means.  Soup  and  baked  beans 
were  added,  and  many  poor  laboring  men  were  thus 
aided.  A pledge-book  was  kept  in  the  room,  and 


CRUSADE  AT  HARTFORD. 


759 


temperance  papers  were  placed  upon  the  tables.  On 
Monday  evening  of  each  week  a temperance  praise 
and  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  coffee-room, 
which,  during  the  past  winter,  was  very  fully  attended; 
sometimes  there  being  sixty  or  seventy  present. 

A small  melodeon  was  hired,  and  the  music  drew  in 
many  from  the  street.  A large  number  signed  the 
pledge  after  these  meetings,  and  some  cases  of 
wonderful  reformation  have  occurred.  Most  of  those 
who  promise  to  give  up  the  use  of  liquors  do  it  with 
the  determination  to  lead  a life  of  prayer  and  trust 
in  God. 

A small  library  of  temperance  books  and  stories  is 
in  one  corner  of  the  room,  and  young  men  and  boys 
are  invited  in,  evenings,  to  read ; but  as  they  have  no 
room  except  the  eating-room,  they  have  not  been  able 
to  carry  out  this  part  of  the  work  as  successfully  as 
they  hope  to  do  at  some  future  time. 

Early  in  the  work  of  the  Union  a committee  was 
appointed  to  visit  the  jail,  and  the  startling  fact  was 
ascertained  that  mo7'e  than  three-fourths  of  the  prisoners, 
including  male  and  female,  were  brought  there  through 
the  influence  of  alcoholic  drinks.  The  ladies  were 
allowed  to  converse  with  the  female  prisoners,  and 
good  books  and  papers  were  left  with  them  to  read. 

Another  coffee-room,  with  lodgings  connected,  was 
opened  in  February,  1877,  under  the  care  of  an  ear- 
nest Christian  man,  who  was  to  watch  over  and  guard 
such  reformed  men  as  were  permitted  to  board  there. 
Owing  to  the  low  state  of  the  treasury,  only  a small 
building  could  be  hired,  which  accommodated  but  six 
or  eight  lodgers. 


760 


CRUSADE  IN  DELAWARE. 


But  want  of  means  obliged  the  Temperance  Union 
to  give  up  this  “Friendly  Inn”  in  July  last,  much  to 
their  regret,  for  they  felt  it  to  be  a centre  of  great 
good.  The  part  of  the  city  where  it  was  located  was 
filled  with  drinking-saloons.  A temperance  prayer- 
meeting was  held  in  the  room  every  Friday  eve,  and 
the  crowds  who  gathered  in  the  room  and  about  the 
door  showed  their  interest  in  it.  These  meetings 
have  been  continued  since  the  coffee-room  was  closed. 
Many  have  signed  the  pledge,  and  some  hope  they 
have  commenced  a Christian  life  through  the  influence 

o 

of  the  meetings.  Wall-pockets,  with  tracts  and  papers, 
have  been  placed  by  the  Temperance  Union  in  many 
of  the  fire-engine  houses  in  the  city,  and  also  in  the 
State  hospital. 

Slowly,  but  it  is  hoped  surely,  the  little  work  goes 
on  ; clouds  often  gather  over  the  pathway  of  those 
who  are  leading  as  well  as  those  who  are  being  led,  but 
the  humble  work  done  in  the  name  of  the  Master  is 
laid  with  earnest  prayer  at  His  feet. 

The  ladies  of  the  followino;  towns  have  enofao-ed  in 
the  work  with  more  or  less  success,  often  battling 
auainst  fearful  discouragfements ; 

East  Hampton,  Essex,  Bethany,  Deep  River,  Willi- 
mantic,  Jewett  City,  West  Haven,  Danbury,  and  South 
Norwalk. 


DELAWARE. 

A good  work  has  been  done  in  Delaware  durinor 
the  last  three  years.  Immense  mass-meetings  have 


CRUSADE  IN  DELAWARE. 


761 


been  held  in  Wilmington  from  time  to  time,  and  peti- 
tions to  the  Legislature  been  extensively  circulated. 
On  Tuesday,  February  i6th,  1875,  the  Woman’s  Tem- 
perance Union  of  Wilmington,  joined  by  temperance 
women  from  other  parts  of  the  State,  paid  a visit  to  the 
State  Legislature.  It  was  my  privilege  to  accompany 
the  delegation  and  aid  in  the  services.  A special 
train  was  chartered,  and  two  or  three  hundred  went 
down  from  Wilmington,  and  the  number  was  aug- 
mented at  every  station  on  the  route.  The  excite- 
ment in  Dover  was  intense ; as  notice  of  this  visit  had 
been  given,  people  from  towns  and  neighborhoods 
within  a circle  of  twenty  miles  crowded  into  Dover. 
The  citizens  of  the  town  met  and  welcomed  the 
Woman’s  Temperance  Union,  and  provided  enter- 
tainment. 

At  three  o’clock,  by  previous  arrangement,  they 
proceeded  in  a body  to  the  State  House.  The  build- 
ing was  already  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  but  the 
sergeant-at-arms  cleared  the  way  for  the  visitors.  The 
members  of  both  houses  were  In  waiting,  and  received 
their  lady  visitors  in  a cordial  and  gentlemanly  manner. 
As  soon  as  the  speaker  called  the  house  to  order,  Mrs. 
Stevens  stepped  In  front  and  knelt  in  prayer.  It  was 
a solemn  moment.  Every  head  was  bowed,  and  every 
heart  throbbed  under  the  searching  power  of  the 
Divine  Spirit,  and  many  eyes  were  wet  with  tears,  while 
she  prayed  to  Almighty  God  for  the  deliverance  of  her 
State  from  the  thraldom  of  the  liquor  traffic.  The 
prayer  was  followed  by  the  singing  of  two  verses  of 


“Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee.” 


CRUSADE  IN  DELAWARE. 


^62 

Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Israel,  of  Wilmington,  and  the 
writer  of  these  pages,  were  privileged  to  address  the 
Legislature.  , 

A mass-meeting  was  held  in  the  evening,  which  was 
attended  by  nearly  every  member  of  both  houses. 
One  senator  said,  grasping  my  hand,  “The  effect  of 
this  will  not  be  lost.  There  were  some  of  us  who  could 
join  your  Crusade  song  in  the  beginning,  but  there 
are  others  who  have  been  won  to-day.” 

“I  MADE  HIM  WHAT  HE  WAS.” 

About  this  time  a saloon-keeper  in  Dover,  Delaware, 
who  patronized  his  own  bar  very  liberally,  stepped 
into  a back  room  where  men  were  at  work  about  a 
pump  in  a well.  The  covering  had  been  removed, 
and  he  approached  to  look  down,  but  being  very 
drunk,  pitched  in,  head  foremost.  He  had  become  so 
much  of  a bloat  by  the  use  of  strong  drink,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  extricate  him  in  time  to  save  his  life. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  the  town.  IMen  and 
women  who  had  never  been  inside  of  his  saloon  before, 
were  the  first  to  rush  to  the  rescue,  and  to  offer 
sympathy  to  the  bereaved  family.  As  he  was  being 
dragged  from  the  well,  and  stretched  out  dead  upon 
the  saloon  floor,  a wholesale  liquor-dealer  from  Phila- 
delphia stepped  in.  After  the  first  shock  at  thus  find- 
ing one  of  his 'good  customers  dead,  he  turned  to  a 
prominent  lady,  a Crusader,  and  said,  pointing  to  the 
wrecked  victim,  “ I made  that  man  what  he  was.  I 
lent  him  his  first  dollar,  and  set  him  up  with  his  first 
stock  of  liquors,  and  he’s  now  worth  ^10,000  or 
$15,000.” 


CRUSADE  IN  DELAWARE.  763 

Looking  him  full  in  the  face,  she  responded : 

“You  made  that  man  what  he  was — a drunkard,  a 
bloat,  a stench  in  the  nostrils  of  society,  and  sent  him 
headlong  into  eternity,  and  to  a drunkard’s  hell. 
What  is  ^15,000  weighed  against  a lost  soul,  a wasted 
life,  a wife  a widow,  and  children  orphans?” 

He  turned  deadly  pale,  and  without  a word  left  the 
house. 

What  is  all  the  business  and  all  the  revenue  to  the 
millions  whose  homes  are  despoiled,  whose  children 
are  beggared,  and  whose  loved  ones  are  sent  head- 
long to  a drunkard’s  grave  and  a drunkard’s  hell  ? 
Let  us  put  ourselves  in  the  place  of  that  mother,  whose 
son  is  pursued  day  and  night  by  this  demon,  till  the 
hairs  of  his  head  become  serpents,  and  live  coals  burn 
into  his  flesh  to  the  very  bone,  and,  fighting  devils,  he 
leaps  out  into  eternity,  and  then  ask.  Are  my  hands 
clean  ? Do  I love  my  neighbor  as  myself?  Am  I 
doing  all  I can  to  stay  the  tide  that  is  bearing  so  many 
down,  and  may  yet  bear  me  down  ? 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1877,  immense 
daily  mass-meetings  were  held  in  Wilmington,  in  the 
Opera  House,  and  in  a large  tent.  The  meetings 
were  crowded,  and  15,000  signed  the  pledge.  Taken 
as  a whole,  there  has  been  a great  advance  in  Dela- 
ware within  the  last  few  years. 


THE  OUTLOOK  AFTER  THE 
CRUSADE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Crusade  was  an  assault  on  the  liquor  traffic  all 
along  the  lines,  by  heroic,  determined  women,  whose 
motto  was,  “ Victory  or  death  ! ” 

Victory  after  victory  was  achieved,  until  the  liquor 
oligarchy  was  driven  from  the  open  field  into  its  strong 
defences.  And  then  the  women  organized  under  the 
name  of  the  Woman’s  National  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  and  began  a siege — a well-planned,  determined 
siege,  that  has  gone  on  with  untiring  zeal  and  energy 
for  the  last  three  years,  and  will  go  on  till  the  last 
redoubt  of  the  enemy  is  captured. 

One  by  one  the  strongholds  of  the  foe  have  been 
weakened ; one  by  one  the  towers  of  strength  are 
being  taken  down,  till  only  one  unbroken  line  of  de- 
fence is  left — governmental p7'otection.  The  press,  that 
mighty  engine  of  power,  that  with  its  thousands  of 
bands  and  wheels  moves  the  millions  to  thought  and 

O 

action,  has  been  mainly  won  to  this  cause.  More  than 
800  newspapers  have  already  agreed  to  give  a col- 
umn weekly  to  the  temperance  cause,  at  the  request 
(764) 


AFTER  TFIE  CRUSADE.  765 

of  the  besieging-  party.  And  the  press  may  yet  reach 
John  Bowring’s  high  ideal: 

“ But  mightiest  of  the  mighty  means 
On  which  the  arm  of  progress  leans, 

Man’s  noblest  mission  to  advance, 

His  woes  assuage,  his  weal  enhance, 

His  rights  enforce,  his  wrongs  redress, 

Mightiest  of  mighty  is  the  press.” 

The  Pulpit  has  turned  its  heavy  guns  against  the 
enemy.  Thousands  of  ministers,  who  before  the 
Crusade  were  silent  and  indifferent,  are  now  champions 
of  the  cause. 

The  Chuj'ch  has  been  greatly  purified,  and  Christian 
unity  has  been  promoted,  and  the  moral  forces  con- 
solidated. 

Fermented  wine  has  been  banished  from  thousands 
of  churches,  because  the  women  in  the  temperance 
work,  many  of  them  polished  pillars  in  the  church  of 
Christ,  could  not  conscientiously  partake  of  the  alco- 
holic cup,  or  invite  the  men  redeemed  through  their 
efforts  to  do  so. 

The  Stinday-Schools  are  being  reached.  Temper- 
ance lessons  have  been  secured  in  many  of  them,  and 
through  this  means  and  regularly  organized  societies, 
tens  of  thousands  of  children  are  beinaf  trained  to 
temperance  principles. 

The  Public  Schools  have  been  visited,  and  many  of 
the  colleges  of  learning,  and  the  work  has  been 
greatly  advanced.  This  will  be  felt  at  the  polls,  and 
in  our  legislative  hall  a few  years  hence. 

Medical  Bodies  have  been  visited,  and  their  co-ope- 


766 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


ration  secured.  The  International  Medical  Conofress, 
which  met  in  Philadelphia  in  1876,  the  most  influential 
body  of  medical  men  ever  convened,  numbering  four 
hundred  and  eighty  delegates,  many  of  them  the  ablest 
writers  and  scientists  In  the  profession,  was  visited  by 
a delegation  of  ladles,  and  an  official  letter  presented. 

Other  communications  had  been  received,  and  had 
been  laid  on  the  table.  But  the  letter  from  the 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  not  only 
graciously  received  and  referred  to  a committee,  but 
carried  all  the  other  communications  with  It  for  a 
respectful  hearing  and  response. 

The  reading  of  the  letter  before  the  committee  was 
followed  by  a round  of  applause,  and  the  whole  sub- 
ject was  carefully  and  scientifically  considered.  And 
I have  heard  nothing  stronger  on  the  temperance 
platform  in  opposition  to  the  use  of  alcohol,  than  in 
that  discussion.  And  the  verdict  against  its  use  was 

o 

unanimous,  with  the  exception  of  one  vote  given  by  a 
man  who  receives  special  honors  from  the  beer  con- 
gress because  of  his  advocacy  of  the  use  of  beer. 
And  this  action  was  afterwards  approved  by  the  con- 
gress unanimously. 

The  following  Is  the  letter  and  reply : 

To  the  Chainnan  and  Members  of  the 

Internatio7ial  Medical  Coiigress  : 

Honored  Sirs  : — I take  the  liberty,  as  a representa- 
tive of  the  Woman’s  National  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  the  United  States,  to  call  your  attention  to 
the  relation  of  the  medical  use  of  alcohol  to  the  preva- 
lence of  that  fearful  scourge,  intemperance. 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


767 


The  distinguished  Dr.  Mussey  said,  many  years 
ago : “ So  long  as  alcohol  retains  a place  among  sick 
patients,  so  long  there  will  be  drunkards.” 

Dr.  Rush  wrote  strongly  against  its  use  as  early  as 
1790.  And  at  one  time  the  College  of  Physicians  at 
Philadelphia  memorialized  Congress  in  favor  of  re- 
straining the  use  of  distilled  liquors,  because,  as  they 
claimed,  they  were  “ destructive  of  life,  health,  and  the 
faculties  of  the  mind.” 

“A  Medical  Declaration,”  published  in  London,  De- 
cember, 1872,  asserts  that  “It  is  believed  that  the  in- 
considerate prescription  of  alcoholic  liquids  by  medical 
men  for  their  patients  has  given  rise  in  many  instances 
to  the  formation  of  intemperate  habits.”  This  mani- 
festo was  signed  by  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
leadinor  medical  men  of  the  United  Kino^dom.  When 

ir>  o 

the  nature  and  effects  of  alcohol  were  little  known,  it 
was  thoucrht  to  be  invaluable  as  a medicine.  But  in 

o 

the  light  of  recent  scientific  investigations,  its  claims 
have  been  challenged  and  its  value  denied. 

We  are  aware  that  the  question  of  the  medical  use 
of  alcohol  has  not  been  fully  decided,  and  that  there  is 
a difference  of  opinion  among  the  ablest  medical 
writers.  But  we  notice  that  as  the  discussion  and 
investigation  goes  on,  and  new  facts  are  brought  out, 
its  value  as  a remedial  agent  is  depreciated. 

A great  many  claims  have  been  brought  forward  in 
Its  favor,  but  one  by  one  they  have  gone  down  under 
the  severe  scrutiny  of  scientific  research,  until  only  a 
few  points  are  left  in  doubt.  In  view  of  this,  and  the 
startling  fact  that  tens  of  thousands  die  annually  from 


768 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


its  baneful  effects,  we  earnestly  urge  you  to  give  the 
subject  a careful  examination. 

You  have  made  the  study  of  the  physical  nature  of 
man  your  life-work,  and  you  are  the  trusted  advisers  of 
the  people  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  treatment 
of  diseases,  and  the  preservation  of  life  and  health. 

You  are  therefore  in  a position  to  instruct  and  warn 
the  masses  in  regard  to  its  indiscriminate  use,  either 
as  a medicine  or  a beverage. 

We  feel  sure  that,  true  to  your  professional  honor, 
and  the  grave  responsibilities  of  your  distinguished 
position,  you  will  search  out  and  give  us  the  facts, 
whatever  they  may  be. 

If  you  should  appoint  a standing  committee  from 
your  own  number,  of  practical  scientific  men,  who 
would  give  time  and  thought  to  this  question,  it  would 
be  very  gratifying  to  the  one  Jmndred  thousand  women 
I represent,  and  most  acceptable  to  the  general  public. 

I am,  with  high  considerations  of  respect. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Annie  Wittenmyer, 

President  Woman’s  National  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  1020  Arch  street,  Philadelphia. 

Septe7nber  bih  IS76. 


International  Medical  Congress, 
Philadelphia,  September  ^th,  1876. 

Dear  Madam: — I am  instructed  by  the  Section  on 
Medicine,  International  Medical  Congress  of  1876,  to 
transmit  to  you,  as  the  action  of  the  Section,  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions  adopted  by  it  with  regard  to  the 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


769 


use  of  alcohol  in  medicine,  the  same  being  in  reply  to 
the  communication  sent  by  the  Woman’s  National 
Christian  Temperance  Union: 

1.  Alcohol  is  not  shown  to  have  a definite  food 
value  by  any  of  the  usual  methods  of  chemical  or 
physiological  investigation. 

2.  Its  use  as  a medicine  is  chiefly  that  of  a cardiac 
stimulant,  and  often  admits  of  substitution. 

3.  As  a medicine,  it  is  not  well  fitted  for  self-pre- 
scription by  the  laity,  and  the  medical  profession  is 
not  accountable  for  such  administration,  or  for  the 
enormous  evils  resultinor  therefrom. 

C> 

4.  The  purity  of  alcoholic  liquids  is  in  general  not 
so  well  assured  as  that  of  articles  used  for  medicine 
should  be.  The  various  mixtures,  when  used  as  a 
medicine,  should  have  definite  and  known  composition, 
and  should  not  be  interchanged  promiscuously. 

Very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  Ewing  Mears,  M.  D., 
Secretary  of  the  Section  of  Medicine. 

Annie  Wittenmyer,  President  of  the  Woman’s 
National  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

The  medicine-chest  has  been  a stronghold  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  but  this  action  rules  it  out  of  its  long- 
cherished  place. 

The  medical  associations  in  very  many  of  the  States 
have  been  visited,  and  urged  to  discontinue  the  use  of 
alcoholic  stimulants,  and  have  pledged  themselves  to 
do  so. 


49 


770 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


The  respectability  of  the  drink  traffic  has  been  de- 
stroyed. No  man  who  has  any  regard  for  his  personal 
reputation  would  go  into  the  business,  or  care  to  be 
seen  coming  out  of  a saloon. 

o 

- And  to  stigmatize  a business  is  to  ruin  it. 

The  State  and  National  Legislatures  have  been  ap- 
pealed to,  without  any  apparent  result,  further  than  to 
keep  the  enemy  at  bay,  and  secure  a sharper  rendering 
of  the  laws  already  on  the  statute  books. 

Where  prohibitory  laws  existed,  they  have  been 
strengthened.  The  granting  of  licenses  in  some  of 
the  States  has  been  prevented,  and  in  most  of  the 
States  the  laws  are  better  enforced. 

Liquors  have  been  banished  from  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  and  from  the  National  Capitol  building,  and 
all  over  the  land  are  less  common  at  receptions  and 
state  dinners. 

Ladies  have  had  a gracious  hearing  before  many  of 
the  State  Legislatures,  and  before  the  United  States 
Senate  Finance  Committee. 

Hope  has  revived  in  the  heart  of  many  a wear)^ 
wife  and  night-weeping  mother. 

TThe  great  Reform  movement  among  drinking  men, 
under  the  able  leadership  of  Murphy  and  Reynolds, 
was  made  possible  and  successful,  under  the  enthusi- 
asm of  this  new  dispensation  of  Gospel  Temperance. 
And  God  has  honored  faith  and  prayer,  as  a remedial 
agent  for  the  salvation  of  men  from  sin  and  appetite, 
throughout  the  land,  as  neve?  before.  But  the  richest 
blessings  have  come  to  the  women  themselves.  In 

o 

the  complete  consecration,  the  utter  abnegation  of  self. 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


771 


needed  for  the  work,  they  have  reached  a higher  plane 
of  religious  experience.  They  have  gained  “a  faith 
that  will  not  shrink  when  pressed  by  every  foe  ” — a 
moral  heroism  that  can  stand  serene  in  the  presence 
of  ridicule,  and  contumely,  and  mockings. 

Church  doors  have  opened  before  them  ; the  pulpit 
has  ■vyelcomed  them ; the  dumb  have  spoken  with  new 
tongues ; and  woman,  rising  to  her  grand  possibility 
in  the  church,  stands,  to-day,  centuries  in  advance  of 
the  position  she  occupied  before  the  Crusade. 

And  say  what  men  will  about  the  Crusade,  it  was 
the  tidal-wave  that  lifted  the  temperance  question  to  a 
gospel  plane ; it  was  the  Pentecostal  baptism  that  sent 
the  women  of  all  denominations  out  to  plead  the  cause 
of  God  and  humanity,  with  tongues  of  fire ; it  was 
woman’s  answer  to  the  “prayer-test”  of  mocking 
scientists;  it  was  the  staggering  blow  that  sent  the 
rum  power  reeling  towards  its  fall.  And,  under  another 
name,  it  is  honeycombing  the  entire  drink  system  ; un- 
dermining its  heaviest  fortifications  ; planting  its  maga- 
zines of  power  in  every  city  and  village ; and  the  time 
will  come  when  some  hand  of  faith  will  touch  the  bat- 
tery of  heaven,  and  this  iniquitous  business  will  go 
down,  socially,  politically,  and  legally,  to  trouble  the 
nation  no  more. 

But  there  will  be  many  a hard-fought  battle  before 
the  victory  is  won. 

I cannot  close  this  volume  without  callinof  attention 
to  the  relation  of  the  foreign  emigration  to  the  liquor 
traffic,  and  to  crime  and  pauperism. 

Some  of  the  best  people  in  our  land  are  foreigners, 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


.772 

honored  and  trusted  by  all.  So  I want  it  clearly  un- 
derstood that  no  reference  is  made  to  that  class  of  law- 
abiding  Americanized  citizens  who  came  from  across 
the  seas  to  find  a home  with  us,  and  who  respect  our 
institutions  and  obey  our  laws. 

But  we  may  not  conceal  the  fact  that  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  entire  liquor  business  is  in  the  hands  of 
a low  class  of  foreigners,  althoimh  the  entire  foreign 
population  of  the  country  constitutes  I'ss  than  one-sixth. 

A band  of  men  connected  with  one  of  the  Reform 
Clubs  of  Philadelphia,  investigating  this  matter,  made 
a thorough  canvass  of  this  city  in  the  beginning  of  1876, 
our  Centennial  year. 

Many  curious  facts  were  brought  to  light  by  this 
private,  quiet  canvass,  bearing  on  the  criminality  of 
the  business  and  the  persons  engaged  in  it. 

They  ascertained  that  there  were,  licensed  and  un- 
licensed, 8,034  places  where  intoxicating  liquors  were 
sold. 

The  nationality  of  those  engaged  in  the  business  in 
this  city  at  that  time  was  as  follows: 

Chinamen,  2 ; Jews,  2 ; Italians,  18  ; Spaniards,  140; 
Welsh,  160;  Americans,  205;  Africans,  265;  French, 
285;  Scotch,  497;  English,  568;  German,  2,179; 
Irish,  3,041  ; unknown,  672  ; total,  8,034. 

Of  this  number  there  were  3,782  which  were 
directly  or  indirectly  connected  with  houses  of  ill- 
fame.  Of  the  8,034  liquor-sellers,  as  nearly  as  could 
be  ascertained,  more  than  two-thirds  had  been  inmates 
of  prisons  and  station-houses. 

Of  the  4,805  inmates  received  into  the  House  of 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


773 


Correction,  Philadelphia,  during  the  year  1875,  accord- 
ing to  official  report,  2,234,  nearly  one-half,  were  for- 
eign born,  and  75  out  of  every  100  were  drunkards. 

Of  the  12,462  adults  received  into  the  almshouses 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  1875,  more  than  one-half,  6,847, 
were  foreign  born,  and  5,422  were  Irish  and  German  ; 
77  unknown.  We  are  slowly  learning  the  fact  that 
we  are  building  jails  and  almshouses  that  ought  to  have 
been  built  in  Germany  and  Ireland,  and  that  America 
is  rapidly  becoming  a sewer  for  the  moral  filth  of 
Europe. 

The  liquor  traffic  of  New  York  city  is  mainly  in  the 
hands  of  foreigners,  and  an  undue  proportion  of  arrests 
are  recorded. 

There  were,  as  I learn  by  an  official  statement  from 
the  warden,  38,036  imprisoned  in  the  Tombs,  New 
York,  during  the  year  ending  1876;  of  this  number 
nearly  two-thirds,  23,842,  were  foreign  born,  14,194, 
native  born. 

The  work-house  at  Blackwell’s  Island,  New  York, 
received,  during  1876,  22,845  prisoners,  of  whom 
11,250  were  men  and  11,595  were  women.  Of  these 
prisoners  the  commissioners  say:  "D7''unkenness  was 
the  immediate  cause  of  the  incarceration  of  three-quarters 
of  the  former  and  seven-eighths  of  the  latter- — the  pre- 
disposing catise  in  the  cases  of  all  the  restd  This  is 
official,  emphatic  testimony  as  to  the  effects  of  strong 
drink  as  a cause  of  crime. 

All  the  mobs  that  insulted  the  women  engaged  in 
the  Crusade  were  made  up  largely  of  a criminal  class 
of  foreigners  who  were  dealers  or  drinkers. 


774 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


The  Alameda,  California,  outrage,  which  has  no 
parallel  in  the  history  of  civilized  nations,  was  per- 
petrated by  members  of  the  “San  Francisco  German 
Saloon-Keepers’  Society.”  One  gentleman  said,  “ It 
was  simply  hell  let  loose.  It  was  a constant  series  of 
howlinofs,  cursinof  and  threats.  I never  Avitnessed  such 
a scene  of  riot  and  confusion.  The  mob  actually  took 
possession  of  the  town,  and  kept  it  all  day,  howling, 
yelling,  and  cursing,  and  evidently  bent  on  inaugurating 
a reign  of  terrorism  to  keep  temperance  people  away 
from  the  polls.” 

The  sight  of  a lady  was  the  signal  for  an  outburst 
of  obscenity  and  insult,  and  one  lady,  Sallie  Hart,  came 
near  losing  her  life,  because  she  had  asserted  her  tem- 
perance principles.  The  mob  Avere  like  a pack  of 
hyenas ; if  they  had  succeeded  in  getting  her  into 
their  clutches,  they  Avould  have  torn  her  limb  from 
limb. 

The  San  Francisco  Post  says ; “ What  makes  this 
outrage  the  more  unendurable  is,  that  all  or  nearly  all 
of  these  Avomen  insulters  and  Avomen  mobbers  seem 
to  have  been  foreigners,  Avho,  Avelcomed  here  to  equal 
privileges  and  the  right  to  vote,  presume  to  insult  and 
mob  American  women,  Avho  choose  in  a peaceable  and 
orderly  manner  to  exert  their  influence  in  the  settle- 
ment of  a public  question.” 

It  makes  every  drop  of  patriotic  blood  in  my  Amins 
boil  to  knoAV  that  such  things  as  are  recorded  in  this 
book  can  be  done  under  the  flag,  for  AAdiich  my  great- 
grandfather fought  In  the  ReAmlutlonary  AA'ar,  and  for 
which  my  grandfather  fought  in  the  Avar  of  1812,  and 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


775 


for  which  three  of  my  brothers  fought  in  the  recent 
civil  war,  and  for  which  I have  risked  life  many  times. 

I am  for  peace,  but  not  when  it  means  submission 
to  the  wrono- — not  when  it  means  insult  to  the  flaof  and 
the  principles  it  symbolizes — not  when  it  means  the 
triumph  of  the  mob  element  of  society  over  honest 
worth,  and  the  insult  of  virtuous  American  women. 
Then  I am  for  war — war  to  the  knife,  and  the  knife  to 
the  hilt.  Let  the  sword  of  justice  come  down  like  a 
surgeon’s  knife,  and  cut  away  all  this  putrid  mass  that 
is  eatinof  like  a canker  into  the  heart  of  the  nation. 


POLITICAL  CORRUPTION. 

I pass  to  notice  briefly  the  corrupting  influence  of 
this  class  on  our  political  life. 

They  have  come  to  be  a marketable  commodity  in 
politics. 

They  make  terms  with  party  leaders,  and  always  in 
the  direction  of  their  own  interests,  without  regard  to 
the  welfare  of  the  country.  And  as  so  large  a number 
of  them  are  engaged  in  the  liquor  business,  and  control 
the  votes  of  their  customers,  they  have  become  the 
most  dangerous  merchandise  in  which  we  deal — a very 
powder  magazine  under  the  bulwarks  of  the  nation. 

The  Liquor  Men's  Advocate,  exhorting  its  whiskey 
cohorts  to  act  unitedly  under  the  leadership  of  the 
bartenders,  says : 

“ The  good  old  German  way  of  spending  the  Sabbath 
don’t  suit  their  (the  temperance  men’s)  sublime  taste.- 
Five  hundred  million  dollars  passed  through  the  hands 
of  dealers  in  liquors  during  the  past  year  (1873). 


776 


AFTER  TFIE  CRUSADE. 


This  shows  a powerful  element,  which,  if  united,  might 
bid  good-bye  to  the  fanatical  prohibition  laws.  Every 
saloon  averages. eighty  regular  customers,  and  these 
eighty  customers  have  eighty  votes,  and,  if  properly 
managed,  every  bartender  might  influence  these  eighty 
votes  to  a given  point,  decided  by  bartenders  en 
masse  y 

The  bartenders,  then,  are  to  decide  the  great  moral 
and  political  questions  of  this  country  by  marching  up 
an  army  of  habitual  drunkards  to  the  polls. 

This  is  not  only  the  pla7i,  but  the  practice.  For 
proof  of  the  truth  of  this,  go  to  the  polls  on  any  general 
election  day  and  see  a hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men 
reel  up  to  the  polls  and  deposit  their  bleared,  muddled 
ballots  as  the  rum  power  dictates.  Notice  that  the 
polling  places  are  in  or  near  saloons,  and  the  moral 
atmosphere  about  them  impregnated  with  tobacco, 
beer  and  whiskey. 

^ To  rescue  this  mighty  power,  the  ballot,  from  the 
hands  of  men  who  have  given  up  their  manhood,  and 
have  lost  self-control,  and  are  degraded  and  crazed  by 
drink,  is  the  first  duty  of  the  government. 

Let  the  privileges  of  the  ballot  be  at  once  taken 
from  all  who  can  be  shown  on  evidence  to  be  habitual 
drunkards,  untiHlief^-tsqrrDTyToTthorQuglLXeformation. 
This  will  strip  the  liquor-dealers  of  their  mightiest 
weapon  in  politics,  and  take  out  of  our  party  contests 
the  most  combustible  and  dangerous  element. 

And  what  reasonable  person  can  object  to  this?  No 
man  whose  brain  is  muddled  by  drink,  who  has^brought 
himself  down  to  the  brute  level,  ought  to  be  clothed 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


in 


with  the  power  to  decide  the  destiny  of  a great  nation. 
If  he  is  not  capable  of  governing  himself,  he  should 
not  be  intrusted  with  the  duty  of  governing  a great 
Republic  like  ours,  where  every  man  is  a ruler. 

And  just  here  is  the  hiding  of  the  liquor-dealers’ 
power.  Unmask  this  battery,  and  concentrate  a mighty 
force  that  will  capture  it,  and  you  take  the  enemy’s 
heaviest  uuns,  and  its  main 
hold. 

SABBATH  DESECRATION. 

The  proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath  day  is  our 
“dead-line”  as  a nation.  And  yet  this  very  class  of 
dealers  and  drinkers  are  aimino-  their  heaviest  blows 
at  the  American  Sabbath. 

In  1874,  when  this  class  came  into  power  in  Chicago, 
their  first  act  was  to  repeal  the  Sunday  law  closing  the 
saloons  and  beer  gardens  on  the  Sabbath  day,  just  as 
they  have  done  in  the  other  large  cities  where  they 
have  obtained  power. 

But  this  case  was  the  more  conspicuous  because  of 
the  gross  indignities  offered  to  Christian  women  by 
the  filth-reeking,  villanous  mob  gathered  from  the 
saloons  to  insult  them.  It  is  this  element  that  is 
laying  violent  hands  upon  the  Bible,  to  hurl  it  from 
the  place  accorded  it  by  the  pilgrim  fathers  : 

The  Bible  that  came  over  in  the  Mayflower ; the 
Bible  whose  teachings  form  the  ground-work  of  Eng- 
lish common  law ; the  Bible  which  was  read  in  our 
first  Congress,  and  before  which  every  officer  of  the 
government  from  that  day  to  this  has  stood  in  awe, 
and  sworn  fidelity  to  the  Constitution  and  to  duty. 


political  and  social  strong^ 


778 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


George  Washington,  Daniel  Webster,  Judge  Stor- 
rer,  and  other  distinguished  statesmen  pronounce  the 
public  school,  without  the'  Bible,  an  absurdity  and  an 
outrage. 

President  Hayes,  on  one  occasion,  made  use  of 
the  following  strong  language  in  regard  to  the 
Bible: 

“To  drive  the  Bible  out  of  the  school-house  is  a 

stiorma  and  an  insult.  What  is  the  witness-stand,  the 
. ^ ...  . * 
jury-room,  or  the  judicial  bench  worth  widiout  the 

sanction  of  the  Bible  operating  on  the  public  ? De- 
grade the  book  as  unfit  for  our  children  to  read  in 
school,  and  its  authority  over  the  conscience  is  gone. 
This  destroys  the  very  foundations  so  carefully  laid — 
the  organic  law,  A single  generation  thus  trained 
will  be  enough  to  accomplish  that  result.” 

These  are  brave,  strong  words  in  the  presence  of 
an  ao-crressive  foe.  And  we  will  do  well  to  remember 

oo 

that  the  Bible  is  our  magna  charta  of  Liberty;  our 
Public  Schools  the  chief  corner-stone  of  the  Republic  ; 
and  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath  our  strongest  social 
bulwark.  And  that  taking  the  Bible  out  of  our  public 
schools  this  generation,  means  bonfires  of  Bibles  next 
generation  ; and  the  overthrow  of  our  Public  School 
system,  the  overthrow  of  the  Republic  a few  years 
later,  and  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath,  the  subver- 
sion of  social  virtue  and  good  order,  and  the  degrada- 
tion of  woman.  In  the  presence  of  these  facts  is  it  not 
time  for  us  to'arouse  ourselves,  and  take  a firm  stand  for 
our  American  institutions,  while  we  are  strong  enough 
to  cope  with  the  power  that  threatens  them  ? If  those 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


779 


who  come  here  to  share  the  blessings  of  a republic 
founded  on  Christian  principles,  do  not  like  our  insti- 
tutions, they  are  not  obliged  to  stay.  We  can  better 
afford  to  part  with  them  than  we  can  with  our  Sab- 
baths, our  Bibles,  and  our  Public  Schools.  — ^ 

PERSONAL  LIBERTY. 

As  a defence,  this  class  has  raised  the  cry  of  personal 
liberty. 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  personal  liberty  except 
among  savages.  In  all  civilized  countries  the  dress, 
food,  habits  of  life,  and  the  business  of  the  people  are 
more  or  less  the  subjects  of  legislation.  A 

People  are  restrained  by  law  from  appearing  on  the 
public  streets,  at  watering-places,  and  in  public  as- 
semblies without  suitable  clothing  to  cover  themselves 
with. 

Men  may  not  wear  women’s  clothing,  and  women 
may  not  appear  in  men’s  apparel.  Some  regard  to 
common  decency  must  be  observed  in  public  at  least. 

In  times  of  pestilence  many  things  are  ruled  out  of 
the  market.  Men  may  not  sell  diseased  or  decayed 
food.  Even  the  fish  and  the  birds  are  protected 
against  the  ravages  of  men  at  certain  seasons. 

When  a well  or  fountain  is  deemed  unfit  for  use, 
the  people  are  forbidden  to  drink  of  it,  and  a guard 
placed  to  secure  obedience. 

A druggist  may  not  sell  poisonous  drugs,  such  as 
laudanum  or  opium,  at  his  discretion. 

In  most  of  the  States  gambling  is  forbidden,  and 
although  a man  may  own  the  house  in  which  the  busi- 


780 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


ness  is  carried  on,  and  the  parties  visiting  the  house 
may  make  no  complaint,  yet  the  officers  of  the  law 
may  step  in,  and  the  presence  of  the  men  and  the  ap- 
pliances are  sufficient  proof  of  guilt,  and  they  are 
taken  to  jail.  The  lottery  business  is  forbidden  in 
some  States.  Obscene  books,  and  pictures,  and 
papers  may  not  be  exhibited  or  sold.  Places  of  low 
resort  may  not  outrage  common  decency,  unless  it  is 
done  secretly  and  unlawfully,  as  is  often  the  case. 
Prize-fighters  may  not  beat  and  bruise  each  other.  A 
man  may  not  burn  his  own  house,  or  barn,  or  beat 
his  horse.  He  cannot  have  the  small-pox  just  when 
and  where  he  pleases ; he  may  be  taken  from  his  own 
house  forcibly  and  put  in  a pest-house,  or  he  may  be 
detained  in  quarantine  against  his  will.  A grocer 
was  tried  and  fined  in  Philadelphia,  not  long  ago,  for 
keeping  Limburger  cheese,  because  the  people  who 
lived  next  door  were  annoyed  thereby ; he  was  there- 
fore forced  by  law  to  discontinue  that  business.  A 
man  owning  a lot  in  a city  may  prefer  to  build  a 
frame-house,  but  the  town  authorities  step  in  and  stop 
the  work,  and  he  is  forced  to  build  of  brick  or  stone. 
He  may  not  open  a slaughter-house,  or  establish  a 
powder-magazine  where  he  pleases.  He  may  not 
mint  his  own  money,  although  he  may  have  any 

^quantity  of  silver  or  gold.  He  may  not  charge  ex- 
cessive interest.  He  is  taxed ; is  subject  to  militar)' 
duty,  and  hedged  about  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave 
by  laws.  The  common  good  demands  it,  and  there 
is  no  safety  for  life  or  property  without  restrictive 
leffislation. 

o 


AFTER  THE  CRUSADE. 


781 


With  equal  justice  and  propriety,  the  government 
(State  and  national)  has  the  same  right  to  interfere 
with  the  liquor  traffic.  Every  principle  involved  in 
all  these  restrictive  laws  underlies  the  demand  for 
the  abatement  of  liquor-saloons,  and  breweries,  and 
distilleries. 

The  Brewers’  Congress,  in  their  effort  to  go  down  to 
the  bed-rock — the  basal  principles  of  our  Constitution 
— and  rivet  beer  upon  us,  raised  this  cry  of  personal 
liberty. 

The  people  should  not  be  deceived  by  it.  There  is 
no  such  thing  as  personal  liberty  outside  of  savagism, 
and  the  demand  is  not  for  personal  liberty,  but  for  a 
state  of  lawlessness. 

And  now,  in  conclusion,  giving  God  the  glory  for 
our  past  successes,  and  for  the  wonderful  preservation 
of  those  who  walked  with  the  Master  in  the  furnace 
of  the  Crusade,  let  us  work,  and  pray,  and  wait  with 
faith  for  the  victory  that  will  surely  come. 

“For  though  women’s  hands  are  weak  to  fight. 

Their  voices  are  strong  to  pray  ; 

And  with  fingers  of  faith  they  open  the  gates 
To  a brighter,  better  day,” 


SUPPLEMENT. 


NEW  CASTLE,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  Women’s  Temperance  League  of  New  Castle, 
Pa.,  was  formed  April  8th,  1874.  As  our  county  was 
favored  with  the  Local  Option  Law,  our  work  differed 
from  that  in  many  other  places.  Instead  of  visiting 
saloons  kept  open  by  license,  our  only  street  work 
consisted  in  visiting^  the  distilleries  and  stores  of  such 
of  our  druo-gists  as  would  not  sign  our  “ Druggist’s 
Pledge.”  Here  we  held  prayer-meetings-  upon  only 
four  different  occasions.  This  work  was  not  begun, 
however,  until  the  last  of  June,  after  having  made  a 
thorough  canvass  with  our  pledges. 

In  May,  “Mother  Stewart”  visited  us,  and  insisted 
upon  the  formation  of  a “ Band  of  Hope.”  Feeling 
that  if  we  could  get  the  boys  right,  the  men  would  be 
right,  we  undertook  the  work.  This  society  has  proved 
a marked  success,  comprising  at  present  900  members, 
while  our  league  numbers  800.  The  meetings  of  the 
band  and  of  the  league  have  been  continued  with  little 
interruption  and  with  great  profit,  until  the  present 
time,  1877. 

In  the  winter  of  1877-1878,  we  earnestly  co-oper- 
ated with  the  reformed  men  in  their  work,  though 
separate  meetings  are  still  held  by  the  ladies  and 

children,  Margaret  L.  Aiken,  ex-Sec. 

(783) 


784 


CRUSADE  AT  BUFFALO. 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

I am  indebted  to  Mrs.  L.  M.  Kenyon  for  the  fol- 
lowing facts : 

When  the  tidal  wave  of  the  Crusade  reached  Buffalo 
the  people  said,  “ What  are  we  to  do  with  this  strange 
movement?”  But  God’s  call  was  heard  by  his  own 
children,  and  at  His  command  who  said,  “ Let  there  be 
light,  and  there  was  light,”  the  women  went  out  into 
the  highways  and  the  hedges,  bearing  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation. 

The  women  of  Fredonia  had  preceded  us  in  the 
work,  and  their  fire  kindled  our  enthusiasm.  A meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  to  con- 
sider the  question,  as  to  whether  we  should  unite  in 
the  work  of  the  Crusade  and  try  to  save  our  city. 

There  had  been  formerly  a ladies’  temperance 
society,  but  it  had  lain  dormant  for  years.  It  was 
thought  this  might  again  be  revived,  and  form  a start- 
ing point  for  a new  movement,  but  the  president  of 
that  society  did  not  feel  that  she  could  unite  in  the 
Crusade,  and  so  an  independent  meeting  was  the 
result.  God  was  with  the  women  who  engaged  in  the 
work,  in  a w^onderful  manner,  from  the  very  beginning. 
They  went  out  into  every  part  of  the  city  two  by  two. 
In  some  sections  churches  were  opened  for  their  meet- 
ings. The  saloons  were  visited,  and  the  women  sang 
and  prayed,  and  read  the  Scriptures,  and  the  power 
of  God  fell  upon  the  people,  and  law-breakers  and 
men  hardened  in  transgression  were  seen  to  weep. 

No  regular  plan  of  attack  was  made  in  the  begin- 
ning, but  the  women  went  as  the  tloly  Spirit  directed. 


CRUSADE  AT  BUFFALO, 


785 


In  course  of  time  a Woman’s  Temperance  Union  was 
organized,  auxiliary  to  the  State  Union,  which  has 
brought  about  a great  change  in  public  sentiment, 
although  the  opposition  at  times  was  very  violent  and 
often  discouraging.  But,  sustained  by  an  Almighty 
hand,  they  continued  to  push  the  work. 

A committee  of  three  ladies  was  appointed  to  visit 
the  Board  of  Excise,  and  ask  them  to  withhold  license. 
That  body  answered  they  had  done  all  they  could,  so 
the  argument  did  not  prevail.  The  mayor  of  the  city 
fixed  a time  when  the  ladies  should  meet  the  Excise 
Commission,  but  when  the  hour  arrived  he  was  absent. 
The  interview  was  unsatisfactory,  as  there  was  a divi- 
sion of  sentiment  and  a lack  of  courage.  A long 
petition  was  then  presented  to  the  city  council,  signed 
by  over  three  hundred  of  our  prominent  business  men, 
several  hundred  prominent  women,  and  men  of  various 
occupations  to  the  number  of  three  thousand.  But  all 
their  efforts  were  of  no  avail.  Though  disappointed 
and  discouraged,  they  were  not  utterly  cast  down,  but 
felt  that  God  was  with  them,  and  still  prayed  and 
worked  on.  There  were  not  wantino-  those  who 

o 

opposed  the  Crusade  movement,  and  advised  the 
women  to  stay  at  their  homes,  and  hinted  that  those 
who  visited  saloons  were  crazy  or  fanatical.  Yet  the 
work  of  saloon  visitinof  went  on. 

One  incident  in  connection  with  this  work  was  very 
touching:  A saloon-keeper  had  a lovely  daughter. 
She  had  heard  of  their  visits  to  her  father’s  saloon, 
and  upon  the  day  she  died,  most  eloquently  did  she 
plead  with  him  to  sell  no  more  intoxicating  liquor; 

50 


786 


CRUSADE  AT  BUFFALO. 


never  again  to  open  his  doors  to  sell,  after  they  had 
carried  her  out  to  Forest  Lawn.  The  father’s  heart 
was  touched,  and  he  could  not  resist  the  pleadings  of 
his  dying  child.  He  promised  he  would  close,  and  he 
did  not  again  open  his  saloon,  but  soon  found  respecta- 
ble business. 

In  one  saloon  there  were  about  thirty  men  drinking 
and  playing  cards,  and  women  were  there  in  a state 
of  intoxication.  Permission  to  pray  was  asked,  and 
granted ; and  the  proprietor  said,  “ Boys,  take  off 
your  hats,  while  these  ladies  conduct  their  service!” 
And  the  audience  was  very  attentive;  sorrow  seemed 
depicted  upon  their  bloated  faces,  and  their  thoughts 
were  no  doubt  lifted  up  for  a time,  at  least. 

In  one  saloon  a woman  was  very  angry,  and  used  In- 
sulting and  Indecent  language.  Said  we  were  spoiling 
her  man’s  business,  and  we  had  better  stay  at  home,  and 
just  mind  our  own  business;  while  the  husband  treated 
us  kindly,  and  seemed  ashamed  of  his  wife’s  conduct, 
and  asked  us  to  come  acrain.  Since  then  the  man  has 

o 

failed  In  his  saloon  business. 

The  ladles  held  Gospel  Temperance  Meetings  in 
the  Friendly  Inn  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  weekly,  and  one 
in  Canterbury  Varieties  Theatre  weekly.  These  meet- 
ings were  productive  of  good.  W e had  encourage- 
ment in  our  work  from  a man  who  was  the  owner 
of  several  saloons,  and  the  proprietor  of  the  Varieties 
Theatre.  He  gave  us  the  use  of  the  theatre,  fire,  light, 
and  attention  of  the  men  attending  to  these  things, 
and  the  thanks  of  the  women  are  to-day  given  Mr. 
Humphreys  for  this  favor.  He  opened  his  doors  for 


CRUSADE  AT  BUFFALO. 


787 


the  temperance  women  to  hold  meetings,  and  good 
impressions  were  made  upon  the  minds  of  hundreds. 
Several  public  meetings  were  held,  but  the 'work  has 
not  been  a decided  success. 

No  large  contributions  of  money  have  ever  been 
received.  The  little  given  has  .-been  distributed  with 
care  in  aidino-  the  families  of  drunkards. 

o 

Election  days  have  been  days  of  prayer  and  fasting 
with  them.  “At  one  election,  we  believe,”  says  the 
writer,  “one  candidate  was  defeated  because  of  our 
prayers.”  He  was  a saloon-keeper.  In  the  morning 
one  of  the  women  of  our  city  said  to  him,  “You  will 
not  be  elected.”  “Why  not?”  said  the  man.  “Be- 
cause the  women  of  the  praying  band  are  in  their 
rooms  praying  for  your  defeat.”  “I’ll  take  the  risk 
upon  it,  and  you’ll  see.”  All  day  long  we  prayed  and 
fasted  ; our  room  was  full.  In  the  afternoon  a gentle- 
man came  in  and  said,  “ Keep  on  praying : there  is  con- 
fusion at  the  polls.  Men  are  carrying  their  votes  in 
their  hands — have  not  yet  voted  : they  are  confused.” 
“Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow”  was  then 
sunsj.  Our  meeting  did  not  close  till  six  o’clock.  The 
saloon-keeper  was  not  elected.  During  the  day  a 
third  man  had  been  put  in  and  was  elected.  The 
saloon-keeper  “cursed  those  women  and  their 
prayers.” 

We  have  had  assistance  from  the  Good  Templars  of 
our  city.  They  have  extended  courtesy  toward  us,  espe- 
cially making  it  pleasant  for  the  gathering  of  our  State 
Union.  They  have  always  encouraged  us  in  our 
work.  A committee  of  ladies  visited  the  Roman 


788 


CRUSADE  AT  BUFFALO. 


Catholic  bishop  for  the  purpose  of  getting  the  ladies 
of  that  church  to  co-operate  in  the  putting  down  of  the 
traffic  in  Buffalo.  He  advised  us  to  call  upon  them 
ourselves,  as  he  did  not  control  the  ladies  of  his 
churches — in  fact  they  did  not  take  part  in  such 
organizations  ; but  he  most  cordially  received  the  com- 
mittee, and  said  he  would  do  all  in  his  power  to  aid 
the  people  here  to  put  down  this  curse  of  the  church 
and  State. 

Voices  cried  unto  us,  saying:  “ When  will  deliver- 
ance come?”  The  reply  was,  “ Wait  patiently  upon 
the  Lord.” 

Ministers  were  visited,  and  requested  to  use  unfer- 
mented wine  at  the  Lord’s  Supper.  To  this  several 
responded  favorably ; others  said : If  a person  is  not 
so  changed  as  to  take  his  desire  for  strong  drink  away, 
he  would  fall  just  as  quickly  out  of  the  church  as  in  it. 

Sunday-schools  were  visited,  and  the  children  in 
these  and  day  schools  pledged. 

A Gospel  Temperance  meeting  found  many  ready 
to  listen.  Said  one  man,  “I  have  drank  liquor  for 
forty  years  : forty  years  of  hell  have  I had.  Why  ask 
me  to  reform?  I can’t!”  Mothers  said,  “Pray  for 
my  son ! Oh,  save  him.  Lord  ! by  the  help  of  these 
women.” 

A man  who  was  a noted  gambler,  jig -dancer,  negro 
minstrel  and  drunkard,  gave  himself  up  to  the  service 
of  the  Master,  and  went  about  imploring  men  to 
reform.  His  own  old  mother,  a depraved  woman,  he 
was  instrumental  in  saving. 

The  villages  near  us  contributed  their  share  of  true 

o 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


789 


Crusade  fire,  and  in  some  cases  the  liquor-dealers  were 
prosecuted,  and  injunctions  put  upon  this  accursed 
traffic.  Angola,  Eden,  North  Collins,  Tonawanda, 
Buffalo,  amid  every  discouragement,  struck  for  a 
release  from  the  license  law,  and,  in  a few  cases,  hotel 
and  saloon-keepers  did  not  renew  their  licenses. 

No  effort  was  made  to  establish  Friendly  Inns,  but 
in  the  ward  meetings  men  signed  the  pledge,  especially 
at  the  Friendly  Inn  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

The  wealthy  women  of  the  city  were  not  generally 
enlisted,  yet  by  the  power  of  God  many  a young  man 
was  saved  and  many  homes  made  happy.  The  Cru- 
sade fire  is  still  burning,  and  only  needs  to  be  fanned 
to  kindle  a blaze  of  temperance  enthusiasm. 

XENIA. 

During  the  second  week  of  the  Crusade,  Friday 
was  set  apart  as  a day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  services 
being  held  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  during  the 
entire  day.  While  this  meeting  was  going  forward, 
the  ladies  were  on  duty,  and  at  nine  o’clock  the  “ Flole 
in  the  Wall,”  in  the  rear  of  the  Ewing  House,  kept  by 
Manus  O’Donnell,  capitulated  unconditionally,  and  in  a 
few  minutes,  more  than  sixty  gallons  of  bad  whiskey 
went  to  wash  the  sin-defiled  alley  of  Whiteman ; 
O’Donnell  himself,  amid  the  cheers  of  a thousand 
spectators,  and  the  band  of  praying  women,  knocking 
out  the  bungs  to  give  it  flow. 

It  was  a complete  and  unconditional  surrender  of  a 
man  of  all  his  earthly  possessions,  acknowledging  his 
wrong  and  throwing  himself  upon  the  public  for  sup- 


790 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


port  in  some  other  calling.  Still  in  the  rear  of  this 
saloon  was  the  “ Den  of  Iniquity,”  from  out  of  which, 
while  yet  the  rejoicing  proceeded,  Warwick,  the  colored 
proprietor,  was  seen  emerging  with  a little  dirty  white 
rag  on  a broomstick,  bearing  it  aloft  as  a token  of  his 
surrender.  Cheer  after  cheer  went  up ; the  ladies 
filed  into  his -den,  and  brought  forth  his  bottles  and 
kegs  of  whiskey,  and  emptied  their  contents  into  the 
gutter.  The  proprietor  of  another  saloon  consented 
to  close.  His  wife  was  temporarily  absent ; she 
was  a woman  who  had  a very  vile  tongue,  and  when 
she  returned  she  was  very  indignant  that  the  saloon 
should  be  closed,  and  immediately  reopened  it.  The 
ladies  renewed  their  visits,  and  while  they  were  pray- 
ing before  the  saloon,  and  she  was  indulging  in  a 
blasphemous  tirade,  one  of  the  women  was  led  to  pray 
that  the  Loi'd  would  stUl  her  tongue.  The  prayer  was 
answered.  She  was  afterward  struck  dumb,  and 
remained  so  for  two  years,  when  she  died. 

Mrs.  M.  C.  Bristow  adds  the  following:  Mass-meet- 
ings were  held  every  evening;  union  meetings  in 
which  all  our  ministers  took  part;  also  a morning 
meeting  which  was  largely  attended  not  only  by  our 
temperance  women  and  ministers,  but  by  many  of  our 
principal  business  men.  A mass-meeting  was  held 
Sabbath  afternoon  by  the  women.  All  these  meetings 
were  well  attended  until  the  month  of  April,  at  which 
time  our  city  election  took  place.  We  had  looked  for- 
ward to  this  event  with  much  interest:  the  parties, 
instead  of  being  as  heretofore  Republicans  and  Demo- 
crats, were  Temperance  and  Anti-Temperance.  For 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


791 


mayor,  the  most  important  office  to  be  filled,  the  friends 
of  temperance  nominated  one  of  the  best  men  in  the 
city — Captain  McDowell ; not  only  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian temperance  man,  but  a man  whom  everybody  re- 
spected. The  other  candidate  was  not  only  opposed 
to  the  new  temperance  movement,  but  one  who  habitu- 
ally used  intoxicating  liquors.  To  our  sorrow  and  dis- 
appointment Captain  McDowell  was  defeated,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  accept  for  our  highest  city  officer  one 
whom  we  had  every  reason  to  believe  would  do  all  in 
his  power  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  temperance 
movement. 

The  women  were  out  upon  the  streets  that  day 
in  full  force,  and  at  one  of  our  saloons  a most 
shameful  affair  occurred.  A middle-aged,  highly 
respectable  woman,  a member  of  one  of  our  bands, 
having  become  weary  from  long  standing  and  frequent 
kneeling,  seated  herself  upon  the  steps  of  the  saloon 
of  John  Glassinger,  a German,  to  rest  for  a few  mo- 
ments. She  was  immediately  ordered  by  the  proprie- 
tor to  leave  the  premises,  and  failing  to  obey  as 
quickly  as  he  thought  she  ought  to,  he  kicked  her  off 
the  steps  by  main  force,  and  afterwards  gave  her 
blows,  which  confined  her  to  her  bed  and  house  for 
several  weeks. 

The  saloon-keeper  was  arrested,  but  being  a man 
of  means,  gave  bail,  and  when  his  case  finally  came  up 
before  the  grand  jur}^,  they  being  entirely  in  sympathy 
with  him,  failed  to  find  an  indictment.  And  so  for  four 
years  he  has  been  permitted  to  pursue  his  unholy 
traffic,  without  let  or  hindrance.  Times  without  num- 


792 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


ber  he  has  been  arrested  for  selling  to  minors,  and 
otherwise  violating  the  letter  of  his  license,  but  the 
judgment  of  our  court  has  always  been  lenient  in  his 
case. 

We  read  in  the  word  “that,  though  joined  hand  in 
hand,  the  wicked  shall  not  go  unpunished.”  And  just 
now  it  really  seems  in  the  case  of  this  man,  who  has  so 
long  openly  defied  the  laws  of  God  and  man,  the  words 
of  Holy  Writ  are  about  to  be  verified.  A few  w^eeks 
since,  in  opening  a beer  barrel,  the  bung  flew  out  and 
hit  him  in  the  eye,  entirely  destroying  the  sight  of 
that  eye.  The  other  out  of  sympathy  is  also  seriously 
affected,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  he  will 
eventually  lose  the  sight  of  both  eyes.  His  first  ex- 
clamation after  the  accident  was:  “ Now  dem  vimins 
will  say,  ‘ dis  is  a judgment  from  God  for  my  selling 
liquor.’  ” 

The  day  after  the  election  it  was  a serious  ques- 
tion with  our  earnest  Christian  women  whether  they 
should  go  out  upon  the  streets  or  not,  but  after 
due  deliberation  they  decided  to  do  so.  We  met  as 
usual  at  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning  for  prayer,  formed 
ourselves  into  bands,  and  separated,  each  going  to  our 
appointed  field  of  duty.  We  were  very  sorrowful  on 
that  ever  to  be  remembered  morning ; a deep  solemnity 
and  unwonted  fervor  was  apparent  in  every  prayer 
that  was  offered.  In  the  language  of  the  Psalmist, 
we  were  led  to  exclaim  in  our  extremity,  “\"ain  is  the 
help  of  man  ; unto  Thee,  O Lord ! we  lift  our  waiting 
eyes.” 

Shortly  after  our  city  election  an  opposing  band  was 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


793 


organized,  composed  entirely  of  Germans.  Of  all  the 
saloon-keepers  in  the  town,  only  five  were  Americans 
— two  white,  and  three  black. 

This  German  ^'Mocking  band"  was  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  disturbing  and,  if  possible,  breaking  up 
the  temperance  bands.  When  we  came  upon  the 
street  and  commenced  our  labors,  they  came  also  and 
commenced  theirs  ; in  derision  they  sang  and  prayed, 
and  once  in  our  presence  took  communion,  in  their 
mocking,  profane  way,  using  beer  for  wine.  But  these 
proceedings  were  kept  up  for  only  a brief  period.  See- 
ing that  we  were  undaunted,  and  could  not  be  driven 
from  the  field  by  this  kind  of  persecution,  they  desisted, 
leaving  us  to  go  on  with  our  services  undisturbed. 

The  full  bands  were  out  daily  for  nine  weeks,  includ- 
ing picket  work ; but  it  was  not  in  the  nature  of  things 
that  our  labors  on  the  street  should  continue.  Some 
had  already  been  obliged  to  abandon  the  work  on 
account  of  failing  health,  others  had  young  families 
requiring  their  time  and  attention,  and  thus  from 
various  causes  one  and  another  dropped  out  of  our 
ranks. 

During  the  month  of  July,  the  heat  became  so  in- 
tense that  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  go  out  in  the  day 
time,  and  meetings  were  held  in  the  early  part  of  the 
morninsf  and  evening-. 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Wilson  adds:  “About  this  time  a com- 
mittee of  liquor  men  visited  our  business  firms  to 
ascertain  who  were  in  sympathy  with  this  Crusade 
movement,  as  they  fully  intended  to  withdraw  their 
patronage  from  all  who  were. 


794 


CRUSADE  AT  XENIA. 


“ The  number  of  workers  at  this  time  was  reduced 
to  about  twenty-five.  We  held  Gospel  Temperance 
Meetings  in  various  places  on  Saturday  evenings,  also 
on  Sabbath  afternoons.  During  the  active  work  a 
Woman’s  Temperance  League  was  organized,  with 
three  hundred  and  twelve  members,  which  has  since 
been  merged  into  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union. 

“ The  Sabbath  four  o’clock  prayer-meetings  have 
been  held  regularly  since  the  Crusade.  A meeting  is 
also  held  Sabbath  at  three  p.  m.  in  the  jail,  where  we 
have  reason  to  believe  very  much  good  has  been 
accomplished.” 

Among  those  who  took  part  in  the  prayer-meetings 
and  the  work  were  Mrs.  Lowe ; hlrs.  Allen  ; Mrs. 
Monroe;  Mrs.  Moore;  Mrs.  Barr;  Mrs.  Hartwell; 
Mrs.  Bedell;  Mrs.  Turnbull;  Mrs.  Marley ; Mrs. 
Wilson;  Mrs.  Drees;  Mrs.  Bristol;  Mrs.  Wilson; 
Mrs.  Luce  ; Mrs.  Farber ; Mrs.  Finley;  Mrs.  IMere- 
dith  ; Mrs.  Shearer;  Mrs.  Watt;  Mrs.  Day;  IMrs. 
Good;  Mrs.  Williams;  Mrs.  Merrick;  Mrs.  Conna- 
ble  ; Mrs.  Ralston;  Mrs.  Shipley;  Mrs.  Conwell ; l\Irs. 
Hutchinson;  Mrs.  Ormsby;  Mrs.  Barlow;  Mrs.  Trot- 
ter ; Mrs.  McMillan  ; Mrs.  Jacoby  ; Mrs.  McPherson  ; 
Miss  Williams;  Miss  Keaggy;  Miss  Allen;  IMiss 
Lauman ; Miss  Allison. 

There  were  scores  of  others,  whose  names  we  were 
not  able  to  secure. 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Organized  Temperance  Work  is  of  recent  date, 
and  may  justly  be  claimed,  as  one  of  the  fruits  of  the 
Christian  civilization  of  the  Nineteenth  century. 

The  first  society  was  formed  in  Moroe,  Saratoga 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  by  two  earnest  men — a Christian  minister  and 
a Christian  physician. 

From  this  little  beginning,  a blessed  tidal  wave  of 
influence  has  swept  around  the  world,  and  Temperance 
organizations  may  now  be  found  in  every  civilized  and 
semi-civilized  country  on  the  globe. 

One  of  the  most  singular  facts  in  the  history  of  this 
reform  is,  that  more  than  fifty  years  of  earnest  effort  was 
put  forth  by  men,  before  women  began  to  take  very  much 
actual  interest  in  the  work.  The  Good  Templars  were 
the  first  to  open  their  doors,  and  invite,  and  secure 
their  co-operation.  But  it  was  not  till  that  mighty 
Spiritual  cyclone  that  we  call  “the  Crusade”  swept 
over  the  land,  that  any  large  number  of  women  came 
aggressively  into  the  work. 

With  the  power  of  this  Pentecostal  baptism  upon 
them,  and  the  heroism  of  a divine  faith  to  sustain 
them,  they  were  almost  irresistible. 

Timid  women,  unused  to  missionary  work,  went  out 

(795) 


796 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


as  flaming  heralds  of  the  Cross,  carrjdng  the  gospel 
of  the  Son  of  God  into  the  saloons,  and  down  into  the 
slums  of  vice.  And  these  ministrations  were  attended 
with  wonderful  power  and  success.  Whole  towns 
were  cleared  of  the  liquor  traffic  in  a few  days ; hun- 
dreds of  men  who  had  been  in  the  trade  for  years, 
closed  their  saloons,  and  renounced  the  business  for- 
ever ; thousands  signed  the  pledge ; many  who  were 
going  down  rapidly  to  ruin,  reformed,  and  became 
champions  of  the  cause ; women  unschooled  in  oratory, 
spoke  with  tongues  of  fire,  moving  the  masses  by  their 
burning  words  of  eloquence,  and  stirring  society  to  its 
vei-y  depths. 

As  to  what  the  result  might  have  been,  had  the 
women  continued  on  these  lines  of  work,  we  dare 
not  speculate.  But  this  we  do  know,  that  just  in  pro- 
portion as  they  have  had  power  with  God,  they  have 
had  power  with  men  ; and  just  to  the  extent  that 
they  have  wandered  away  from  the  Divine  source  of 
strength,  and  “ put  their  trust  in  princes  and  in  the 
son  of  man,  in  whom  there  is  no  help,”  to  just  that 
extent  they  have  failed  to  secure  unity  and  success. 

The  brilliant  dash  of  the  Crusade,  that  so  discom- 
fited the  enemy  all  along  the  lines,  was  followed  by 
organization. 

The  new  society,  which  was  called  the  Woman’s 
National  Christian  Temperance  Union,  was  organized 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  November,  1874,  by  representa- 
tives from  most  of  the  Northern  and  some  of  the 
Southern  States. 

The  growth  of  the  society  was  unprecedentedly 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


797 


laro^e.  Branch  unions  were  formed  in  all  the  laro^e 
towns  and  cities,  and  in  many  of  the  villages  of  the 
land. 

Soon  the  work  extended  beyond  our  own  lines, 
and  a Canadian  Woman’s  Temperance  Union,  and  a 
British  Woman’s  Temperance  Association  were  ef- 
fected, which  have  extended  the  work  to  India,  Africa 
and  the  Islands  of  the  sea,  so  that  wherever  the  Eng- 
lish language  is  spoken,  the  names  of  these  societies 
are  a household  word. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  work,  there  was  entire 
unity  in  the  plans  of  these  societies,  which  was  one  of 
the  marks  of  its  Divine  origin.  They  all  worked  after 
the  pattern  shown  them  on  the  mount  of  faith.  < 

Another  evidence  that  the  pattern  was  of  Heavenly 
origin,  is  the  fact  that  it  was  complete  in  outline,  and 
that  they  were  enabled  to  take  such  a wide  view  of 
the  field,  and  grasp  with  such  masterly  hands,  the 
instrumentalities  to  be  used. 

WORK  AMONG  THE  CHILDREN. 

In  the  very  beginning,  the  importance  of  pledging 
and  training  the  young  was  emphasized.  This  work 
has  been  pushed  with  great  zeal  and  energy,  till  it  has 
extended  far  beyond  their  own  lines. 

The  society  has,  perhaps,  fewer  children  directly 
under  its  training,  but  they  are  more  carefully  taught. 

Regular  training  schools  with  every  facility  for 
scientific  teaching,  have  taken  the  place  of  oral  les- 
sons and  pledge  signing,  so  common  in  the  beginning 
when  the  children  gathered  by  hundreds.  And  they 


798 


A GENERAL  REVIEV/. 


have  pushed  the  work  beyond  their  own  lines,  out  into 
the  Sabbath  schools,  and  into  the  Public  schools  and 
colleges. 

A wonderful  Impulse  was  given  to  this  thorough, 
systematic  training,  by  the  publication  of  Dr.  Richard- 
son’s Lesson  Book,  and  Julia  Colman’s  Alcohol  and 
Hygiene,  by  the  National  Temperance  Publishing  So- 
ciety of  New  York.  So  that  in  reviewing  the  past, 
it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  general  work  has  been  greatly 
advanced. 


TEMPERANCE  LITERATURE. 

As  an  important  auxiliary  in  efforts  to  reach  all 
classes,  especially  those  who  do  not  attend  religious 
and  Temperance  meetings,  the  distribution  of  Temper- 
ance literature  has  been  most  helpful.  The  work 
from  the  very  first  has  been  pushed  with  zeal  and 
persistence,  and  has  gone  steadily  on,  till  the  volume 
of  literature  produced  and  circulated  gratuitously,  is 
enormous.  Instructive  tracts  and  Temperance  hand- 
bills are  being  distributed  by  inillions. 

Many  of  them  are  of  high  order,  and  contain  the 
most  reliable  scientific  information,  d'hese  tracts  may 
be  found  at  railroad  stations,  post-offices,  and  work 
shops,  and  at  other  points  where  men  congregate; 
and,  like  the  leaven  the  woman  hid  in  the  meal,  is 
rapidly  leavening  the  whole  lump. 

FRIENDLY  INNS. 

The  need  of  a safe  place  of  resort  for  the  thou- 
sands, who  during  the  Crusade  were  led  by  Divine 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


799 


power  to  abandon  their  cups,  was  deeply  felt,  and 
many  of  the  Unions  undertook  to  meet  the  demand. 

They  were  well  patronized  by  the  classes  for  whom 
they  were  intended,  and  by  others  who  felt  an  interest 
in  such  generous  enterprises.  But  owing  to  the  labor 
involved,  and  the  responsibility  incurred,  many  socie- 
ties, after  a few  years,  turned  the  work  over  to  private 
parties,  who  assumed  all  risk,  and  gradually  these 
Friendly  Inns  became  Temperance  Restaurants,  and 
Hotels  for  the  accommodation  of  the  general  public, 
and  a more  respectable  class  of  customers.  There 
are  but  few  of  these  institutions  now,  directly  under 
the  control  of  the  society  which  inaugurated  the  work 
in  this  country  so  grandly. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  chancre  in  the  attitude  of  the  Press  has  been 

o 

most  favorable. 

Before  the  Crusade,  it  was  difficult  to  secure  en- 
trance for  Temperance  literature,  into  the  secular  news- 
papers of  the  country,  and  little  was  found  in  the 
religious  journals.  But  the  Crusade  movement  was 
so  unusual  and  exciting,  and  the  people  were  so 
anxious  to  secure  the  latest  information,  that  corre- 
spondents were  kept  in  the  field,  that  the  latest  news 
might  be  furnished. 

That  the  Press  has  maintained  a more  independent 
attitude  towards  the  liquor  traffic  since  the  Crusade 
than  ever  before,  cannot  be  denied.  The  friends  of 
Temperance  have  a fair  field ; the  newspapers  of 
the  country  are  as  accessible  to  them  as  to  the  friends 


8oo 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


of  the  trade,  and  their  contributions  more  often  appear. 
Large  numbers  of  papers  have  conceded  a column 
weekly  to  the  local  unions,  and  they  are  edited  by 
members  of  the  society,  while  the  regular  Temperance 
papers  have  been  much  better  sustained. 

On  the  other  hand,  liquor-dealers  have  established 
their  own  organs,  and  the  pen-fight,  all  along  the  lines, 
waxes  fiercer  and  hotter  as  the  years  go  by. 

The  religious  press  is  outspoken,  and  may  be  relied 
on  in  the  coming  contest,  as  a mighty  power.  The 
secular  press,  though  divided,  will  grandly  reinforce 
the  work,  as  the  question  of  the  total  prohibition  of 
tlie  liquor  traffic  comes  more  and  more  to  the  front. 

YOUNG  women’s  WORK. 

The  organization  of  Young  Women’s  Unions  has 
not  been  general.  But  large  numbers  have  come 
into  the  work  as  co-laborers  with  their  older  sisters, 
and  a more  decided  temperance  sentiment  has  ob- 
tained among  them. 

o 


PRISON  VISITATION. 

The  sick,  and  those  in  prison,  have  been  visited ; 
and  many  in  jails,  for  crimes  committed  under  the  in- 
fluence of  drink,  have  signed  the  pledge,  and  been 
redeemed  inside  prison  walls. 

GOSPEL  TEMPERANCE  MEETINGS. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  Crusade,  while  the 
breath  of  a Divine  inspiration  was  upon  them,  the 
women  inaugurated  Gospel  Temperance  Meetings. 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


8oi 


Their  watch-fires,  kindled  in  almost  every  village, 
glinted  with  light  the  darkest  caverns  of  sin  and 
degradation ; and  thousands,  lost  in  the  mazes  of 
drunkenness,  guided  by  their  beacon  fires,  found  their 
way  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  to  a new  and  redeemed 
life. 

In  no  work  has  God’s  power  been  more  clearly 
displayed  than  in  these  meetings  held  by  the  women 
in  the  early  years  of  their  work. 

These  meetings  had  so  much  of  Christ’s  gospel  in 
them,  and  were  so  effectual  in  saving  the  ungospeled 
masses,  that  the  name  of  Gospel  Temperance  Meetings 
was  given  them — a name  that  has  become  a house- 
hold word  among  all  Temperance  workers  in  all  lands. 

The  rude  halls  and  mission  chapels,  where  the 
workers  held  their  meetings,  seemed  favored  places 
of  Heaven,  where  God  let  down  His  ladder,  for  the 
swift  feet  of  the  angels  of  mercy  and  forgiveness. 
Thousands  were  redeemed,  not  only  from  drunken- 
ness, but  from  all  their  vile  and  sinful  habits. 

If  we  could  turn  over  the  pages  of  the  Book  of  Life, 
we  would  find  opposite  many  a name  unknown  to 
fame,  the  words  of  Jesus,  in  letters  of  living  light,  “In- 
asmuch as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of 
these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  Me.” 

During  the  first  three  or  four  years  of  the  work, 
these  meetings  for  the  reformation  and  salvation  of 
the  drinking  classes,  w^ere  most  earnest  and  success- 
ful, During  one  year  special  reports  showed  that 
over  fifteen  thousand  had  been  saved  through  these 
Gospel  Temperance  Meetings. 

5' 


8o2 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


The  Woman’s  Temperance  Union  was  born  of 
prayer,  and  must  be  sustained  by  prayer.  When  we 
substitute  any  other  agency  for  prayer  we  will  be 
shorn  of  our  strength,  and  fall  apart.  Nothing  but 
the  Divine  grace  that  comes  in  answer  to  much  prayer 
can  cement,  in  strong,  enduring  bonds,  human  hearts 
for  such  work  as  this. 

As  they  gather  about  the  cross  to  pray,  they  are 
drawn  nearer  to  the  Master,  and  nearer  to  each  other. 
The  reflex  influence  upon  the  workers  themselves,  has 
been  a most  blessed  result. 

But  as  the  years  have  gone  by,  the  character  of  the 
work  has  somewhat  changed.  Gospel  Temperance 
Meetings  are  still  held,  and  drinking  men  brought  in 
and  saved ; but  the  meetings  are  not  so  frequent,  and 
are  not  so  largely  attended  by  crowds  from  the  slums. 

Bible  Readings,  and  Consecration  meetings,  have 
become  more  frequent,  and  the  workers  themselves 
are  seeking  teaching.  At  the  seventh  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
held  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  October,  i88i,  there  were 
present  216  delegates,  representing  twenty-seven 
States,  besides  the  District  of  Columbia  and  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Dakota. 

The  Treasurer’s  exhibit  showed  $2,557.69  received 
and  disbursed ; and  the  Corresponding  Secretary’s 
report  showed  a vast  amount  of  work  accomplished. 

But,  as  large  as  the  work  may  appear,  we  may  not 
conceal  from  ourselves  the  fact  that*-  we  have  only 
touched  the  rim  of  the  womanhood  of  this  country,  as 
yet.  Millions  of  women  are  idle  and  indifferent,  and 


A GENERAL  REVIEW.  803 

thousands  are  under  the  power  of  the  habit,  or  in  the 
liquor  business. 

Unity  of  plans  by  which  these  masses  could  be 
reached,  would  greatly  advance  the  Temperance  cause. 

One  of  the  great  needs  of  the  country,  and  of  this 
cause,  is  good,  sober,  intelligent  mothers,  who,  with 
strong  hands,  would  mould  society  in  its  beginnings. 

If  we  would  have  good  government  in  the  country, 
we  must  have  good  government  in  the  homes  where 
government  begins. 

Women  are  the  governors  of  the  race  for  the  first 
and  best  half  of  human  life.  They  are  the  character 
builders  for  the  future  generations,  and  we  shall  have 
won  a great  victory  for  the  cause  when  we  may  count 
the  mothers  of  the  land  on  the  side  of  the  Temperance 
host,  and  their  home  teaching  backs  up  legal  enact- 
ments. 

PROHIBITORY  LEGISLATION. 

We  can  no  longer  admit  of  compromise  measures 
in  dealing  with  the  liquor  traffic.  The  whole  iniqui- 
tous business  is  wrong ; a sin  against  God,  a cruel 
crime  against  society,  that  no  amount  of  revenue  can 
condone.  To  admit  that  crime  legalized  is  no  longer 
crime,  is  absurd.  The  moral  code  is  written  not  only 
in  the  Book  of  God,  but  on  human  hearts.  Every 
fibre  of  soul  and  body  is  under  laws  that,  violated, 
must  meet  the  penalty,  no  matter  how  men  legislate. 
And  there  is  not  one  sentence  in  the  whole  moral 
code  that  does  not  fall  upon  the  liquor  traffic  and 
traffickers  in  heavy  condemnation.  We  must  adjudge 
this  crime  as  we  would  other  crimes. 


8o4 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


There  is  no  ground  to  justify  compromises.  As 
well  might  we  advocate  a.  law  making  it  optional  with 
the  people  whether  crime  such  as  theft,  or  murder,  or 
arson,  should  be  committed  under  protection  of  law. 

There  is  not  a principle  involved  in  English  com- 
mon law  that  is  not  violated  by  the  emissaries  of  the 
liquor  traffic.  Human  comfort  and  happiness,  the 
safety  of  life  and  property,  and  the  perpetuity  of  gov- 
ernment, are  involved. 

As  Temperance  sentiment  has  increased,  the  de- 
mand for  Prohibitory  legislation  has  become  more  and 
more  imperative,  and  the  most  radical  measures  are 
brought  forward. 

Prohibition  by  constitutional  amendment  has  be- 
come the  rallying  cry  in  nearly  every  State.  The 
people  propose  to  take  the  matter  into  their  own 
hands,  and  divest  it  of  all  political  complications,  and 
settle  it  on  its  own  merits,  by  an  exercise  of  their  con- 
stitutional rights. 

o 

This  seems  the  easiest,  quickest,  and  most  perma- 
nent plan  that  has  ever  been  brought  forward,  and  is 
in  perfect  harmony  with  our  American  institutions. 

A decision  by  a majority  of  the  legal  voters  of  the 
State,  in  favor  of  putting  Prohibition  down  in  the  bed- 
rock of  State  law,  would  carry  the  necessary  public 
sentiment  for  the  enforcement  of  the  law. 

The  example  of  President  and  Mrs.  Hayes  in  ban- 
ishing liquor  from  the  White  House  during  one  Presi- 
dential term,  was  most  praiseworthy.  And  the  beau- 
tiful tribute  of  the  Woman’s  Temperance  Union,  was 
a suitable  recognition  of  the  heroic  stand  for  Truth  and 

o 


A GENERAL  REVIEW. 


805 


Temperance,  made  by  Mrs.  Lucy  W.  Hayes.  And  the 
fact  that  during  President  Hayes’  term  of  office  the 
unused  wine  glasses  gathered  dust  in  the  cellar,  while 
the  Bible  was  in  constant  use  in  the  parlor,  will  stand 
out  as  a gem  in  history,  long  after  the  liquor  traffic  of 
the  Republic  is  overthrown,  and  Prohibition  written  on 
the  door-post  of  the  White  House,  and  over  the  portals 
of  the  Capitol  btiildings. 


The  crisis  presses  on  us, 

Face  to  face,  with  us  it  stands. 

With  lips  of  solemn  question. 

Like  the  Sphynx  of  Egypt’s  sands ; 
To-day  we  fashion  destiny — 

The  web  of  fate  we  spin. 

To-day  forever  choose  we. 

Or  holiness  or  sin. 

By  the  future  that’s  before  us — 

By  all  the  lights  that  cast 
Their  dim  and  flickering  beams  across 
The  darkness  of  the  past. 

And  by  the  blessed  thoughts  of  Him 
Who  for  our  ransom  died  ; 

Oh,  my  country  ! oh,  my  brothers ! 
Choose  ye  the  righteous  side.” 


Duke  University  Libraries 


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